A DNA “match” feels like the end of your case. It isn’t. DNA evidence can be wrong, overstated, contaminated, or […]
How DNA Evidence Can Be Challenged in a Louisiana Criminal Case Read Post »
In Hunter v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that federal appeal waivers are unenforceable when they would produce a miscarriage of justice. Here is what that means for defendants who signed away the right to appeal.
A former Colorado DNA analyst pleaded guilty to manipulating evidence in over 1,000 criminal cases. Her guilty plea reveals systemic failure at the laboratory, institutional negligence, and the profound destruction of liberty. When DNA evidence itself is compromised, the rule of law collapses.
When the Laboratory Burns Down: The Yvonne Woods Plea and the Collapse of Trust Read Post »
In Villarreal v. Texas, decided February 25, 2026, the Supreme Court held 7-2 that a trial judge’s order restricting a testifying defendant’s discussion of his ongoing testimony with counsel during a recess did not violate the Sixth Amendment. What the ruling means for trial practice.
In Chatrie v. United States, decided June 29, 2026, the Supreme Court held that obtaining a user’s Google location history via geofence warrant is a Fourth Amendment search, without going so far as to hold geofence warrants categorically unconstitutional. What the ruling and the ongoing circuit split mean for criminal defense.
In State v. Jarvis Turner (March 6, 2026), the Louisiana Supreme Court held that when a defendant claims trial counsel prevented him from testifying, the claim is reviewed under Strickland v. Washington’s ineffective assistance framework, not as automatic structural error. Post-conviction counsel must now prove both deficient performance and prejudice to prevail.
The Supreme Court’s Hemani decision threatens Louisiana CDS-and-firearm statutes under the Supremacy Clause. Here is what the ruling means for state criminal defense.
Supreme Court Marijuana Decision: Major Threat to Louisiana CDS Gun Laws Read Post »
The Louisiana Court of Appeal’s decision in State v. McKee affirmed the defendant’s conviction, rejecting every self-defense evidentiary argument he raised. Here’s what the ruling actually means for criminal defense in Baton Rouge.
Self-Defense on Trial: What State v. McKee Means for Your Defense in Louisiana Read Post »
Louisiana law compensates the wrongfully convicted, but procedural compliance is critical. Here is what State v. Broaden teaches about securing compensation.
Getting Compensated for a Wrongful Conviction: What State v. Broaden Teaches Us Read Post »
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Case v. Montana lets police enter a home without a warrant in an emergency. Here is what a warrantless search entry means for your rights in Louisiana.
Police at Your Door Without a Warrant: What Case v. Montana Means Read Post »
