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The Unfinished Business of Felony Murder

The Crime Report

In 2017, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court abolished key aspects of its “felony murder rule,” the common law doctrine that made everyone involved in a felony that resulted in death guilty of first-degree murder—guilty even if they personally inflicted no violence and never intended to hurt anyone. The Rest of the Iceberg.

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California Supreme Court: prisoners must get lawyer when challenging convictions for killings committed by others

JURIST

The California Supreme Court held Monday that prisoners are entitled to a lawyer before a trial court can consider their record of conviction in determining whether the prisoners may challenge their murder convictions for killings committed by others. The new law in question was California Senate Bill No. Section 1170.95

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New York Moves to Ease Arrest Disclosure Requirements by Would-Be Lawyers

The Crime Report

New York is moving to end a requirement that law school graduates report past arrests and police interactions short of convictions in order to become practicing attorneys, following a new report finding that excessive screening discourages people of color from applying to law school and the bar, reports Bloomberg News.

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Washington State Faces Defense Attorney Shortages

The Crime Report

Franklin County in Washington state is facing a lawyer shortage as newly booked inmates are not being assigned defense attorneys for the last two months, Cameron Probert reports for Tri-City Herald. Franklin County officials are looking to add $300,000 to the Office of Public Defense to attract more lawyers.

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Thousands stuck in Mississippi jails without trial, MacArthur Justice Center reports

JURIST

The Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law published a report Wednesday identifying thousands of people being held in Mississippi’s county jails while awaiting trial because they cannot afford bail or public defenders unavailable when required.

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US federal appeals court hears oral arguments in Mississippi felony disenfranchisement case

JURIST

The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments Tuesday in a case challenging a Mississippi felon voter disenfranchisement law. The post US federal appeals court hears oral arguments in Mississippi felony disenfranchisement case appeared first on JURIST - News. The case, Dennis Hopkins v.

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10 Tips on preparing for law school

SimplyLawJobs

If you’re looking for admission to a law school, you better start preparing early. Getting into a law school can be difficult; you need to possess several skills, such as – solving problems, critical thinking, research, communication, time management, public service, etc. .