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Criminal Procedure

Criminal procedure rulings on Fourth Amendment searches, Miranda rights, due process, sentencing guidelines, and defendant rights.

64 articles

State Court
•4 min read
Idaho Supreme Court

Idaho Supreme Court Upholds Drug Dog Search Despite 43% Field Accuracy Rate

The Idaho Supreme Court affirmed a conviction in *State v. Barritt*, rejecting a defendant's challenge to a warrantless vehicle search based on a drug detection dog alert. Joshua J. Barritt argued the dog's 43% field accuracy rate over two weeks made the alert unreliable, but the court ruled the dog's 100% controlled environment accuracy established probable cause.

•Idaho Supreme Court affirmed conviction despite drug dog's 43% field accuracy rate over two weeks
•Court prioritized dog's 100% controlled environment accuracy over real-world performance statistics
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Evidence Standards in Domestic Violence Case

The Illinois Supreme Court issued a ruling in People v. Heintz addressing whether evidence of an alleged victim's violent conduct after charged offenses can be admitted under state evidence rules. The court also considered whether trial courts can exclude evidence of a defendant's acquittal on related domestic violence charges.

•Illinois Supreme Court reversed appellate court decision that had vacated defendant's domestic violence convictions
•Court addressed admissibility of alleged victim's violent conduct that occurred after the charged offenses under Evidence Rule 405(b)(2)
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State Court
•4 min read
Court of Appeals of Maryland

Maryland Supreme Court Narrows Post-Conviction DNA Testing Relief

The Maryland Supreme Court ruled that the state's post-conviction DNA testing statute cannot be used to relitigate evidentiary issues that were not preserved during direct appeal. The decision in *Tarpley v. State* clarifies the limited scope of Maryland's DNA testing law for criminal defendants seeking relief.

•Maryland Supreme Court ruled that post-conviction DNA testing statute cannot be used to relitigate evidentiary issues not preserved on direct appeal
•The statute provides only two specific avenues: requesting DNA testing of evidence or challenging previously tested DNA evidence reliability
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State Court
•4 min read
Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Upholds Theft Conviction After Evidence Ruling

The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed Mathew Judd Titmus's felony theft conviction, rejecting his claim that the district court erred in ruling that proper foundation had not been laid for a defense exhibit. The January 26, 2026 decision upheld the conviction involving the theft of a distinctive orange and yellow skid steer tractor.

•Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed Mathew Judd Titmus's felony theft conviction involving a distinctive orange and yellow skid steer tractor
•The court rejected Titmus's appeal challenging the district court's ruling that proper foundation had not been laid for a defense exhibit
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Reverses Appellate Court on Plain Error Standard

The Illinois Supreme Court reversed an appellate court ruling in *People v. Chambliss*, holding that a trial court's failure to conduct a constitutionally required preliminary hearing cannot be reviewed as second-prong plain error when the defendant never objected. The case addresses fundamental questions about constitutional criminal procedure requirements and appellate review standards.

•Illinois Supreme Court reversed appellate court ruling that missing preliminary hearing constituted reviewable plain error
•Defendant Anzano P. Chambliss was convicted of aggravated battery but never objected to lack of constitutional preliminary hearing
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State Court
•4 min read
Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Rules on Probation Revocation Procedure Error

The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled January 22, 2026, on a criminal appeal challenging probation revocation procedures in *Jeremy S. Velasquez v. The State of Wyoming*. The case centers on whether the district court committed plain error by revoking probation without conducting a proper disposition hearing.

•Wyoming Supreme Court reviewed probation revocation procedures after district court found violations and imposed sentence without disposition hearing
•Case involved State's third petition to revoke Jeremy Velasquez's probation in Goshen County District Court
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Defines Death Classifications in Criminal Cases

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a definitive ruling in Commonwealth v. Fitzpatrick on January 21, 2026, establishing clear legal distinctions between 'cause of death' and 'manner of death' in criminal proceedings. The decision provides critical guidance for courts handling medical examiner testimony in murder cases.

•Court establishes material distinction between cause of death (immediate physiological processes) and manner of death (surrounding circumstances)
•Ruling provides clear framework for medical examiner testimony in criminal cases
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State Court
•4 min read
Ohio Supreme Court

Ohio Supreme Court Upholds Denial of Untimely New Trial Motion

The Ohio Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's denial of Joseph McAlpin's motion for a new trial in a death penalty case. The court held that McAlpin's failure to obtain leave before filing an untimely motion under Criminal Rule 33 was sufficient grounds for denial.

•Ohio Supreme Court affirmed denial of death row inmate's motion for new trial due to procedural failures
•Defendant failed to obtain required leave before filing untimely Criminal Rule 33 motion
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State Court
•4 min read
Connecticut Supreme Court

Connecticut Supreme Court Denies Habeas Appeal in Grant Pizza Delivery Shooting

The Connecticut Supreme Court has denied Cecil Grant's habeas corpus petition challenging his convictions for conspiracy, attempted robbery, and assault in connection with the shooting of a pizza delivery driver. Grant had claimed ineffective assistance of counsel in his original trial.

•Connecticut Supreme Court denied Cecil Grant's habeas corpus petition challenging convictions for conspiracy, attempted robbery, and assault
•Grant was convicted in connection with shooting of pizza delivery driver after co-defendant testified against him
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State Court
•4 min read
Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Reverses Dual Assault Convictions on Double Jeopardy

The Washington State Supreme Court partially reversed Anthony Lee's convictions for two counts of second-degree assault, ruling that beating a victim with a gun and then shooting at her constituted a singular course of conduct that violated double jeopardy protections.

•Washington Supreme Court reversed dual assault convictions on double jeopardy grounds
•Court held that beating victim with gun and shooting at her was singular course of conduct
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