Main Entrance

Important case regarding additional testing of item lawfully seized (but without a search warrant) by: Ryan Scott • September 20, 2017 • no comments The case is State v. Sines. It is a significant, thorough opinion on a particularly complicated search and seizure issue. This opinion is almost certainly helpful in cases where the police lawfully seize a firearm without a warrant (during a traffic stop, for example) and then do an arguably unlawful ballistics test, also without a search warrant. The facts in Sines are much, much different, but the analysis would be similar. SW needed to get results of hospital blood draw by: Ryan Scott • September 14, 2017 • no comments Defendant’s blood draw in the hospital was for medical purposes, and a search warrant was required to get access to that information. Trial court affirmed. State v. Saunders, 2017-Ohio-7348 (5th Dist. 2017). Key quote: Therefore, we hold that an OVI suspect in Ohio enjoys a reasonable expectation of privacy in his or her medical records “that pertain to any test or the result of any test administered to the person to determine the presence or concentration of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or alcohol and a drug of abuse in the person's blood, breath, or urine at any time relevant to the criminal offense in question,” which are stored securely in a hospital. R.C. 2317.022(B). It follows that, prior to obtaining such medical records a law enforcement officer must comply with the warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment. The Bad Science Behind Campus Response to Sexual Assaults by: Ryan Scott • September 8, 2017 • no comments Great article by Emily Yoffe can be found here. Key quotes: In meeting this federal demand, some schools have come to rely on the work of a small band of self-styled experts in the neurobiology of trauma who claim that sexual violations provoke a disabling, multifaceted physiological response. Being assaulted is traumatic, and no one should expect those who have been assaulted to have perfect recall or behave perfectly rationally, but this argument goes much further. It generally goes like this: People facing sexual assault become terrified, triggering a potent cascade of neurotransmitters and stress hormones.This chemical flood impairs the prefrontal cortex of the brain, impeding victims’ capacity for rational thought, and interferes with their memory. They may have significant trouble recalling their assault or describing it coherently or chronologically. The fear of imminent death may further elicit an extended catatonic state known as “tonic immobility,” rendering them powerless to speak or move—they feel “frozen.” As a result, those adjudicating sexual-assault allegations are told, the absence of verbal or physical resistance, the inability to recall crucial parts of an alleged assault, a changing story—none of these factors should raise questions or doubt about a claim. Indeed, all of these behaviors can be considered evidence that an assault occurred. But . . . I talked with Richard McNally, a psychology professor at Harvard and one of the country’s leading experts on the effects of trauma on memory, about the assertions Campbell made in her presentation. He first said that because assaults do not occur within the laboratory, “there is no direct evidence” of any precise or particular cascade of physiological effects during one, “nor is there going to be.” But there is plenty of evidence about how highly stressful experiences affect memory, and much of it directly contradicts Campbell. In his 2003 book, Remembering Trauma, McNally writes, “Neuroscience research does not support [the] claim that high levels of stress hormones impair memory for traumatic experience.” In fact, it’s almost the opposite: “Extreme stress enhances memory for the central aspects of an overwhelming emotional experience.” There is likely an evolutionary reason for that, McNally said: “It makes sense for natural selection to favor the memory of trauma. If you remember life threatening situations, you’re more likely to avoid them.” Notably, survivors of recent horrific events—the Aurora movie-theater massacre, the San Bernardino terror attack, the Orlando-nightclub mass murder—have at trial or in interviews given narrative accounts of their ordeals that are chronological, coherent, detailed, and lucid. New Overbreadth Opinion (Seizing Too Many Electronic Devices) by: Ryan Scott • September 7, 2017 • no comments Basing its decision on the analysis of State v. Friddle, the Court of Appeals issued a very good opinion today in State v. Burnham. Key quote: From the affidavit, a magistrate could infer that, because defendant’s cellular phone was used to take incriminating photographs—and defendant posted those photos on his Facebook page—there was a possibility that the photos had been transmitted to at least some of his other electronic devices. Yet, the contents of the affidavit failed to establish that is was more likely than not that such transmission had occurred with respect to all of his devices. See id. at 138 (“ ‘[T]he standard of probability requires the conclusion that it is more likely than not that the objects of the search will be found at the specified location.’ ” (Quoting State v. Williams, 270 Or App 721, 725, 349 P3d 616 (2015) (emphasis in Friddle).)). Thus, as in Friddle, because the affidavit contains no specific information to support an inference that data existing on one device would have been transmitted to other devices belonging to defendant, the affidavit was insufficient to support probable cause to examine those other devices. Defeating Knock-n-Talk with a No Trespassing Sign? by: Ryan Scott • September 6, 2017 • no comments That's the issue in a recent petition for cert you can find here. Notable Passcode Case: Applicable to DUIIs? by: Ryan Scott • September 5, 2017 • no comments From fourthamendment.com: CAAF: It violated Miranda to order soldier provide password to unlock properly seized cell phone The website described the holding as follows: "It violated a Mirandized suspect’s Fifth Amendment rights to direct him to enter the passcode into a properly seized cell phone to unlock it for a search." I haven't read the opinion yet, but the following is either explicit or easily inferred: (1) in-custody defendant, (2) gov't has lawful right to search cell phone, (3) providing the passcode is testimonial and (4) defendant had asked for a lawyer. This puts me in mind of the recent Banks case. In that case, the Oregon Court of Appeals held that the refusal to take a breath test was testimonial evidence. However, it did not find a constitutional violation in using his refusal against him. I wonder if Banks would have turned out differently if Mr. Banks had asked for a lawyer. (Or not been Mirandized.) In such a situation, you'd have (1) an in-custody defendant, (2) government has lawful right to obtain a breath sample, (3) refusing to provide a breath sample is testimonial, and (4) defendant had asked for a lawyer. I'd love for a DUII attorney to weigh in on that situation. A Blakely Challenge to Sentencing that Doesn't Involve an Upward Departure by: Ryan Scott • August 30, 2017 • no comments Don't forget that → continue reading... More upward departure challenges by: Ryan Scott • August 30, 2017 • no comments Whenever you receive an upward departure notice, you should review the relevant OARs, which can be found here. This is because the OARs may provide a defense that isn't obvious from the notice. For example, the OAR on vulnerable victim is quite explicit that the defendant must have known of the specific vulnerability. Further, it's not enough that the person is "vulnerable" but that the vulnerability "increased the harm or threat of harm." That will not be true in all cases. I also like the use of the word "extreme." In the context of age, I'm inclined to think that 14 isn't an extreme age. Nor is seventy. (B) The offender knew or had reason to know of the victim's particular vulnerability, such as the extreme youth, age, disability or ill health of victim, which increased the harm or threat of harm caused by the criminal conduct. Also of note is the limitation on the "multiple victims" enhancement. (G) The offense involved multiple victims or incidents. This factor may not be cited when it is captured in a consecutive sentence. In certain cases, that second sentence is key. Racketeering Sentencing Win! by: Ryan Scott • August 30, 2017 • no comments Today, in State v. Ortega-Gonsalez, the COA held that the charges that also serve as predicates to a racketeering charge are from the same criminal episode as the racketeering charge.  Therefore, the trial court erred by reconstituting the defendant's grid score. This holding can have an even greater impact on other racketeering defendants.  Let's assume the predicate offenses are all felony thefts or UUVs.  Assume also the defendant has no criminal history.  If all the UUVs/Thefts arise from the same criminal episode as the racketeering charge, the defendant doesn't become internally REPO.  Ergo, he stays presumptive probation for all the UUV/Theft counts. Also, for cases involving one victim (e.g., the state, if all the underlying charges are DCS counts), then the 200% rule also kicks in if the crimes are from one criminal episode. Upward Departure Challenges by: Ryan Scott • August 29, 2017 • no comments Here are two important challenges to upward departure factors. They're basic, but often forgotten by even experienced defense attorneys. → continue reading... Two Significant Search Warrant Opinions: Computers by: Ryan Scott • August 22, 2017 • no comments The first one involves a warrant for a defendant's entire Facebook account. A link to the opinion, and a discussion of its significance by Orin Kerr, can be found here. Mr. Kerr's discussion of the second opinion can be found here. The title of this article is: "D.C. Circuit forbids seizing all electronic storage devices in computer warrant cases" Additional discussion here from fourthamendment.com, under the heading, "DC Cir.: The mere fact a person has a cell phone isn’t PC to search it; must be PC evidence would be found" Are violent offenders redeemable? by: Ryan Scott • August 15, 2017 • no comments Worthwhile article on this topic from Slate. And here is a notable opinion piece on release violent felons from prison. Does the gov't need a warrant to get historical cell-site information" by: Ryan Scott • August 15, 2017 • no comments The US Supreme Court may answer that question this year. All the pro-privacy amicus briefs can be found here. Results of the 2016 Criminal Law Quiz by: Ryan Scott • August 14, 2017 • no comments The quiz is here. The results are brutal this year. The ECSA/criminal episode issue was decided against the defense in State v. Dulfu, although the Oregon Supreme Court has granted review. The good news appears to be limited to (4)(b). That said, most of the remaining issues have yet to be addressed by the COA. But virtually all of the undecided issues are working their way through the appellate courts, so there is reason to think we'll get answers in 2018. When ambiguity favors the defendant by: Ryan Scott • August 14, 2017 • no comments I have often noted that ambiguity in the law favors the state. If a defendant honestly can't tell whether or not crimes arise out of the same criminal episode, then he won't know the maximum sentence he might fact. Consequently, his decision to go to trial or accept a plea offer must factor in the worst case scenario, i.e., the sentence he might get if the court finds multiple criminal episodes. The prosecutor has little reason to make the same calculation from the other side. Maybe she'll make the offer marginally better because the defendant has a plausible claim to one criminal episode, but the consequences of being wrong -- arguing for multiple criminal episodes and losing -- is going to be of minimal significance. This situation plays out in various ways every date in the criminal justice system. I don't include situations where the defendant doesn't know if he's going to be found guilty or not. But I do include situations where there is a genuine dispute over whether -- if the defendant actually did the acts he's accused of -- he's actually guilty of an offense, because there is some ambiguity over what the law actually says. But there is one situation where the ambiguity in the law provides a potentially huge upside to the defendant. And that is when he has a slightly outside-the-box type of legal argument that could result in dismissal of most or all of the charges, and because of the relative novelty of the argument, there is no clear case law one way or the other. Because it's a longshot, the prosecutor scoffs and gives it little weight, generally assuming -- with good reasons -- that most judges are highly risk-adverse and aren't likely to grant the defendant's motion. → continue reading... Told to leave purse in impounded car by: Ryan Scott • August 14, 2017 • no comments Not an unusual fact situation described here. From fourthamendment.com: Defendant was a passenger in a car stopped for expired tags. She should have been allowed to keep her purse when she got out of the car. Instead, she was told to leave it in the car, and then it was searched in the car when the car was impounded. Suppressed. State v. Campbell, 2017 Iowa App. LEXIS 777 (Aug. 2, 2017). See also: When defendant consented to a search of her car, she attempted to remove her purse, and the officer had to honor that as a limitation on the consent. He ordered her to put it back, and that was mere acquiesce to a claim of authority. State v. Greub (Aug. 29, 2017). Very Interesting Federal Opinion: Search Warrant and Hard Drive by: Ryan Scott • July 28, 2017 • no comments The opinion is here. Key quote: It is unlikely that the Government would argue it is constitutionally reasonable to search a home based on a warrant previously issued for a crime the homeowner had already been convicted of, and to also direct the searchers to look for evidence of offenses not named in the warrant. In this case, however, the Government asserts the right to do just that, but for a portable hard drive (thumb drive) rather than a home. We recognize the differences between a home and a thumb drive and the unique challenges in applying the Fourth Amendment in a digital context. See generally Josh Goldfoot, The Physical Computer and the Fourth Amendment, 16 Berkeley J. Crim. L. 112 (2011); Orin S. Kerr, Searches and Seizures in a Digital World, 119 Harv. L. Rev. 531 (2005). But the Fourth Amendment compels us to treat them the same in this case. We hold that the military judge did not abuse his discretion in concluding that evidence of an offense not named in the warrant was outside the scope of the warrant and must be suppressed. Furthermore, based on the facts found by the military judge, we conclude, as a matter of law, that the search was not constitutionally reasonable under the particular circumstances of this case. Accordingly, we affirm the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals (ACCA). Another noteworthy quote: → continue reading... Dog sniff in legal MJ state by: Ryan Scott • July 16, 2017 • no comments Notable Colorado opinion. Headline at fourthamendment.com reads: CO: In this recreational MJ use state, a dog sniff is a “search,” and a positive alert isn’t PC a crime is occurring A reminder to Oregon defense lawyers by: Ryan Scott • July 13, 2017 • no comments I am of the opinion that the standard jury instructions for most theories of Assault II, some theories of Assault I, APSO, Theft-by-Taking and Criminal Mischief I and II are wrong. If you want supplemental jury instructions that would give you an additional defense and/or give you an issue for appeal, please contact me directly. If you know someone who is taking one of these cases to trial, please spread the word. Did a recent merger opinion render some ID Thefts unconstitutional? by: Ryan Scott • July 13, 2017 • no comments Maybe yes.  First, a quick primer on vertical proportionality.  From State v. Koch: On appeal, defendant argues that his sentences violate the proportionality requirement of Article I, section 16, of the Oregon Constitution. He asserts that, if he had committed Level 4 forgeries, the maximum durational departure sentence with a "B" criminal history score would have been 18 months in prison. Article I, section 16, prohibits the imposition of a sentence for a lesser offense that is greater than that available for a more serious offense. State v. Turner, 296 Or. 451, 456, 676 P.2d 873 (1984); Merrill v. Gladden, 216 Or. 460, 464, 337 P.2d 774 (1959); Cannon v. Gladden, 203 Or. 629, 631-33, 281 P.2d 233 (1955). Second, State v. Haddon, which essentially held that ID Theft (a felony) can be a lesser-included of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (misdemeanor). In sum, proof of the elements of fraudulent use of a credit card proves the elements of the offense of identity theft, in the forms in which the offenses were alleged in this case. At least as is alleged here, identity theft does not require proof of an element that is not already included in fraudulent use of a credit card. In other words, some ID Theft charges, by being charged as felonies, will violate Article I, section 16, because they carry a greater sentence than misdemeanors that describe more serious behavior. The Haddon court found that the FUCC (the greater offense, measured by elements, but the lesser offense measured by crime seriousness) merged into ID Theft (the reverse). Even if that is the correct result in a merger analysis, that holding wouldn't solve the proportionality problem under the Oregon Constitution.  The state can also defeat the merger argument by not charging FUCC, but that too would not have an impact on the proportionality challenge. This argument will be limited to ID Thefts that fall into the Haddon category, but if they do, it's a powerful and fun argument to make.  I would ask for either dismissal of the ID Theft or, failing that, immediate reduction to a misdemeanor. Can you raise it pre-trial? Probably not. Whether you'd want to alert the prosecutor to the issue as a part of negotiations will likely depend on how easy a problem it would be for them to fix. Did Simonov overrule Barnes? by: Ryan Scott • June 25, 2017 • no comments This is a long blog post, but please read before you go to trial on an assault II based on serious physical injury, an assault I based on knowingly causing serious physical injury to a child, or assault on a public safety officer. It will tell you everything you need to know about why the standard jury instructions for those crimes are wrong. → continue reading... Is Engen good law anymore? by: Ryan Scott • June 23, 2017 • no comments In State v. Engen, the Court of Appeals held that while a defendant must knowingly possess a controlled substance, he didn't need to know the exact nature of the controlled substance.  That is, a defendant charged with possession of cocaine couldn't get an acquittal by arguing he thought it was meth. But back then, a defendant wouldn't have been charged with specifically possessing cocaine.  He was charged with possessing a schedule II controlled substance.  The statute didn't distinguish between cocaine and methamphetamine. Now, a defendant is usually charged with expressly possessing cocaine in most cases, though a separate general statute based on drug categories still exists. The earlier failure to distinguish different controlled substances was part of the analysis in Engen: Given the historical context of the 1977 legislation—the lack of differentiation among types of controlled substances and the historic lack of an explicit mental state requirement pertaining to the specific type of controlled substance possessed—it seems unlikely that the 1977 legislature intended to impose such a requirement. As I mentioned, at least some of the drug statutes make those distinction now.  Let's assume the charge is possession of cocaine.  The mental state is knowingly.  The conduct -- using a Simonov analysis -- is possession of cocaine.  I don't think a person can be guilty under that statute of possessing cocaine if they thought they possessed methamphetamine. New Hampshire accidentally makes pregnancy a defense to murder by: Ryan Scott • June 23, 2017 • no comments The story is here. There is a larger point to be made about sloppy legislative drafting (as well as other points not suited to this blog) but I'll save those for another time. Another example demonstrating that incarceration is often not based on community safety by: Ryan Scott • May 31, 2017 • no comments If prisoner A is in custody, serving a prison sentence, because it is necessary to keep the community safe, then the fact that there is a job shortage would not impact that conclusion, would it? But if a job shortage is a basis for releasing a prisoner, perhaps community safety isn't the issue. And if community safety isn't the issue, then aren't there a number of ways to punish a person that are more effective and cheaper than incarceration? Why do I bring this up? Because of this story in the Wall Street Journal: To Fill Summer Jobs, Maine Gov. Releases Non-Violent Prisoners. What is responsible for the fall in drunk driving since the early '80s? by: Ryan Scott • May 22, 2017 • no comments Drunk driving fatalities have fallen dramatically since the early '80s. They continued to fall since the mid-90s, but that drop is less significant because non-DUII auto fatalities have fallen the same amount, suggesting that improvements in auto safety (which protect the drunk and sober alike) account for most if not all of the drop in the last two decades. Still, if you go back to the early '80s, the decline of drunk driving fatalities has been an extraordinary success story. Is it because of tougher laws? Social stigma? Demographics? Change is alcohol consumption patterns? You might find an answer here. Next 20 Articles _________________________

Enter your email to get notice of new articles: ________________________________________________ Oregon Appellate Ct - Aug 30, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • September 5, 2017 • no comments Evidence – Use of Force Policies Relevant for Impeachment of Officers for Motive/Bias Trial Court Procedure – Motion to Suppress Met Requirements of UTCR Trial Court Procedure – Motion to Suppress Did Not Meet Requirements of UTCR Search and Seizure – Seizure and Search of Defendant Not Justified by Officer Safety Exception Search and Seizure – During Inventory, Folded Paper Did Not Announce its Contents Sentencing – Trial Court Erred in Calculating Criminal History Score for Predicate Offense – Trial Court Did Not Err in Imposing Consecutive Sentences Post-Conviction Relief – Judgment Did Not Conform to Requirements Per Curiam – Disorderly Conduct - Evidence Insufficient to Prove Defendant Made “Unreasonable Noise” Per Curiam – Petition for Reconsideration Denied Per Curiam – Plain Error Attorney Fees → read the full summaries... Oregon Appellate Ct - Aug 23, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • August 28, 2017 • no comments Search and Seizure – Automobile Exception Applied to Warrantless Search Traffic Violation – Defendant’s Conduct of Coordinating Farm Sales Fell Under Exception to Use of Mobile Communications Device Restitution – Restitution for Missing Items Not Proper – Remand for Additional Findings for Damage to Police Vehicle Fines and Fees – Compensatory Fine Properly Included Losses Incurred Outside Time Period Covered by Guilty Plea – Court Would Not Exercise Discretion to Correct Error as to Amount of Fine Search and Seizure – Warrantless Entry Into Home Not Justified by Emergency Aid Exception – Defendant Did Not Consent Forged Permanent Resident Card and Social Security Card Were Not “Valuable Instruments” Contempt – Sufficient Evidence to Prove Defendant Knowingly Violated Court Order Post-Conviction Relief – Remanding for Consideration of Whether Counsel Made a Considered Choice Not to Introduce Bias Evidence and Whether Counsel’s Failure to Contact Petitioner Prejudiced Him – Counsel’s Bar Disciplinary Records Were Admissible Post-Conviction Relief – Statutory Interpretation – Unloaded Firearm Does Not Qualify as Deadly Weapon Per Curiam – Error to Instruct Jury to Consider 9-1-1 Statements As Substantive Evidence Per Curiam – Jury Instructions – Plain Error in Failing to Instruct on Culpable Mental State Per Curiam – Any Error in Admitting Evidence was Not Prejudicial → read the full summaries... Oregon Appellate Ct - Aug 16, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • August 18, 2017 • no comments Restitution – Comparative Fault Rules Do Not Apply in Restitution Proceeding Joinder – Any Error in Consolidating of Charging Instruments was Harmless Post-Conviction Relief – PCR Court Erred in Allowing Hearsay Evidence – PCR Court Erred in Applying Prejudice Standard Search and Seizure – Police Unlawfully Extended Traffic Stop Per Curiam – Post-Conviction Relief – PCR Court Erred in Sua Sponte Granting Summary Judgment on Brady Claim Per Curiam – Post-Conviction Relief – PCR Court Lacked Jurisdiction to Enter Order Per Curiam – Juvenile Dependency – Insufficient Evidence to Support Jurisdiction → read the full summaries... Oregon Supreme Ct - Aug 10, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • August 11, 2017 • no comments Sentencing - Second Judge was Authorized to Give More Severe Sentence on Remand Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle – “Vehicle” for Purposes of UUV Does Not Require Current Operability But Must Establish that It is Reasonable to Restore to Operative Condition Search and Seizure – Warrantless Entry in DUII Investigation was Not Justified by Exigent Circumstances → read the full summaries... Oregon Appellate Ct - Aug 9, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • August 11, 2017 • no comments Per Curiam - On Reconsideration, Amending Judgment to Omit Restitution Award → read the full summaries... Oregon Supreme Ct - Aug 3, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • August 4, 2017 • no comments State May Present Both Interfering With a Peace Officer and Resisting Arrest Charges to the Jury Post-Conviction Relief – Petitioner Entitled to Post-Conviction Relief for Counsel’s Failure to Investigate Overdose Theory of Victim’s Death → read the full summaries... Oregon Appellate Ct - Aug 2, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • August 4, 2017 • no comments Miranda Waiver – The State Failed to Establish that Defendant Voluntarily, Knowingly, or Intelligently Waived his Miranda Rights Charges Were Not Properly Joined – Hearsay Was Inadmissible as a Past Recollection Recorded Prosecutorial Misconduct – Reversal Required when Prosecutor’s Statements During Closing were Impermissible Defendant’s Arrest for Public Drinking was Lawful because City Ordinance was Not Preempted by State Law Post-Conviction Relief – PCR Judgment Does Not Satisfy Requirements Merger – Multiple Counts of Identity Theft Involving Different Victims Did Not Merge into Aggravated Identity Theft Indictments – Disallowance of Demurrer was Harmless Error Merger – Trial Court Erred in Failing to Merge Convictions Involving Single Victim Expungement – Trial Court Erred in Failing to Set Aside Defendant’s Arrest Record Trial Court Did Not Err In Failing to Give Choice of Evils Defense Instruction Per Curiam – Contempt – State Concedes It Misfiled Contempt Proceeding and Trial Court Erred in Imposing Punitive Sanctions → read the full summaries... Oregon Appellate Ct - July 26, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • July 31, 2017 • no comments Defendant’s Statements were Admissions and Not Confessions Civil Commitment – Court Reverses Continued Commitment under Expanded Criteria Defining Mental Illness Search and Seizure – Preservation – Defendant’s Argument was Preserved and Evidence Should Have Been Suppressed Search and Seizure – Preservation – Defendant Failed to Preserve Argument that Opening Car Door was Unlawful Search Identity Theft – Evidence was Sufficient to Show Intent to Defraud Search and Seizure – State Did Not Establish that Evidence Would Inevitably Be Discovered Search and Seizure – Defendant was Unlawfully Seized and Alternative Bases for Search Were Not Raised Below Per Curiam – Search and Seizure – State Concedes Officer Lacked Reasonable Suspicion Per Curiam – Burglary – No Burglary Where Defendant Had Permission to Enter → read the full summaries... Oregon Appellate Ct - July 19, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • July 23, 2017 • no comments Defendant Waived Right to Counsel – Defendant’s Demurrer Should Have Been Allowed Indictments – Demurrer Should Have Been Allowed Because No Basis for Joinder Was Alleged Sufficient Evidence that Defendant Went to Premises Where Minors Regularly Congregate Evidence – In Fraud Case, Evidence that Defendant Made Payments to Victims Was Improperly Excluded Search and Seizure – Officer Reasonably Concluded that Entry to Defendant’s Property was Necessary to Render Emergency Aid to Cattle → read the full summaries... Oregon Supreme Ct - July 13, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • July 14, 2017 • no comments State Not Permitted to Prosecute Defendant for Murder when Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Assault and Plea Agreement was Silent as to Risk of Additional Prosecution → read the full summaries... Oregon Appellate Ct - July 12, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • July 14, 2017 • no comments DUII – Defendant’s Refusal to Consent to Breath Test Admissible in DUII Prosecution Evidence – Trial Court Admitted Text Messages as Adoptive Admissions OEC 403 – Granting Reconsideration to Remand to Trial Court to Conduct Balancing → read the full summaries... Oregon Appellate Ct - July 6, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • July 9, 2017 • no comments Scientific Evidence – Officer’s Conclusion that Defendant Passed or Failed Field Sobriety Test is Scientific Testimony Requiring Adequate Foundation Expert Testimony – Trial Court Erroneously Excluded General Testimony on False Memory – Offer of Proof was Sufficient for Review Sentencing – Under ORS 137.717, Court Lacked Authority to Impose Multiple Downward Departure Sentences but Court had Discretion to Choose Which Count to Depart Search and Seizure – Officer’s Belief that Defendant Possessed Drugs was Not Objectively Reasonable Attorney Fees – Defendant’s General Statement that He May Be Able to Work Insufficient to Support Attorney Fee Award Search and Seizure – Traffic Stop Was Valid under Vehicle Code Juvenile Dependency – Court Violated Interstate Compact by Appointing Guardian in California Sentencing – Trial Court Plainly Violated 200 Percent Rule for Consecutive Sentences Inmate Litigation – Trial Court Did Not Err in Revoking the Waiver of Plaintiff’s Filing Fees Interference with Peace Officer – On Reconsideration Reversing Conviction Because Defendant was Engaged in Passive Resistance Self-Representation – Trial Court Erred in Failing to Allow Defendant to Represent Himself Per Curiam – Merger – Sex Abuse and Sodomy Verdicts Based on Same Acts but Different Theories Should Merge Per Curiam – Merger – Individual Thefts Should Merge into Aggravated Theft Per Curiam – Civil Commitment – Appellant’s Shackling Argument is Unpreserved → read the full summaries... Oregon Supreme Ct - June 29, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • June 30, 2017 • no comments Search and Seizure – Remanding to Determine as Factual Matter Scope of Defendant’s Consent → read the full summaries... Oregon Appellate Ct - June 28, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • June 30, 2017 • no comments Trial Court Properly Denied Demurrer as Untimely – Trial Court Properly Imposed Compensatory Fine Evidence Sufficient to Support Conviction for Initiating False Report Juvenile Dependency – Mother’s Admission Was Sufficient to Support Jurisdiction Per Curiam - Post-Conviction Relief – Remanding for Reconsideration of Poston Issue Per Curiam – Civil Commitment – Insufficient Evidence to Support Commitment Per Curiam - Juvenile Dependency – Court Erred in Appointed Guardian Ad Litem for Mother Per Curiam - Appeal and Review – Defendant May Not Appeal from Guilty Plea → read the full summaries... Oregon Supreme Ct - June 22, 2017 by: Sara Werboff • June 26, 2017 • no comments Sentencing - Sentence Was Not Vindictive When Overall Sentence was Shorter Sentencing – Trial Court Erred in Failing to Consider Whether Defendant’s Intellectual Disability Rendered Measure 11 Sentence Unconstitutional Search and Seizure – Although WA Officer Lacked Authority to Stop Defendant, Evidence Was Constitutionally Obtained → read the full summaries... ________________________________________________ Search and Seizure Privacy Interest, Stops,Arrests, Consent, Warrant Exceptions, Suppression Exceptions, Search Warrants Forensic Science Ballistics, Bitemarks, Bloodstains, DNA, Eyewitness ID, Fingerprints, Handwriting ID, Polygraphs, Shaken Baby Evidence Code Procedure, Relevance, Privileges, Lay Witnesses, Experts, Hearsay, Physical Evidence Immigration Padilla, Agg Felonies, Inadmissibility, Removability, Moral Turpitude, Naturalization, Juveniles, U-Visas Crimes Measure 11, Drugs, Sex Crimes, Homicide, Property, DUII, Child Abuse, Other Crimes Self Incrimination Evidentiary Burdens, State Compulsion, Custody/Compelling Circumstances, Right to Silence, Impeachment Mental States Civil Commitments, Aid & Assist, GEI, Disordered Mental State, Mens Rea, Testing, DSM-IV Defenses Alibi, Necessity, Speedy Trial, Self Defense Oregon Constitution Speedy Trial, Right to Counsel, Confrontation, Double Jeopardy, Equal Privileges, Ex Post Facto, Venue |Trial Procedure Charging Decision, Discovery, Right to Counsel, Pretrial Motions Extradition Veterans and Military Service Created by Jess Barton. Sentencing Criminal Episodes,Merger, Consecutive Sentences, Mandatory Minimums, Probation, Restitution, Collateral Consequences