Habeas Corpus — Evidence — Writ Improperly Granted
The state trial court correctly prevented petitioner from introducing character evidence at his murder trial to show that another person killed the victim. As a result, petitioner’s Sixth Amendment...
View ArticleWhat are the odds?
Criminal Law Similarity of previous events is not necessarily required to admit evidence under the “doctrine of chances,” the Michigan Supreme Court held. Whether evidence of prior acts will be...
View ArticlePrior act evidence allowed in DV cases
Evidence of past acts can be used to show a defendant’s propensity toward domestic violence, the Michigan Court of Appeals held. But some question remains as to whether the statute under which the...
View ArticleLeave Granted
People v. Watkins. (Lawyers Weekly No. 12-75611 – 1 page) On order of the Court, the application for leave to appeal the October 5, 2010 judgment of the Court of Appeals is considered, and it is...
View ArticleCriminal Law – Sexual Offenses – Separate Juries
When a defendant is charged with being a sexually delinquent person in relation to an underlying defense, MCL 767.61a neither explicitly nor implicitly requires that a separate jury determine the issue...
View ArticleLeave Denied
People v. Novak. (Lawyers Weekly No. 06-75986 – 1 page) On order of the Court, leave to appeal having been granted and the briefs and oral arguments of the parties having been considered by the Court,...
View ArticleCriminal Law – CSC I – Conviction Affirmed
Where defendant was convicted of one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC I), MCL 750.520b(1)(a) (victim under 13 years old), none of his claims of error warrant a new trial. Prosecutor...
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