KXXV.com reports: A Fort Hood soldier accused of possession of child pornography has been sentenced. A General Court-Martial found Sgt. Donald Keith Whitten guilty of wrongful possession of child pornography earlier this week. Whitten has been sentenced to 16 months of confinement and reduction to Private E1. Just five days…
Articles Posted in court-martial
Crawford issue
On habeas review of state court convictions, the detective’s trial testimony about the statements of two non-testifying co-actors which implicated the defendant in the shooting and which were used to confront the defendant during his interview violated the Confrontation Clause and constituted plain error, in Ray v. Boatwright, _ F.3d…
Hasan update
I posted yesterday a couple of items where Mr. Galligan indicates he’s been given notice that the prosecution intends seeking the death penalty in the Hasan case. He’s wrong, but not wrong. It’s a question of terminology and reality. Here is a quick note from KWTX.com: FORT HOOD (April 30,…
Army Lawyer online
http://goo.gl/NOZB
NMCCA decision
United States v. Holmes. On direct appeal the NMCCA set aside the original findings of guilty to negligent homicide and the sentence. A rehearing on sentence was authorized for the remaining guilty finding of false official statement. The CA found a rehearing was impractical and approved a punishment of “no…
Defense counsel release from a case
An accused has a limited right to counsel in the military. A very common event for defense counsel is PCS, release from active duty, and orders to deployment. Marine Corps Times reports: A military appeals court has thrown out the 2007 conviction of a Marine infantry squad leader accused of…
Behenna status
Main Justice reports: A high-profile appeal of an Army First Lieutenant convicted last year of killing an unarmed detainee in Iraq could turn in part on whether military prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence. [The] case underscores how the government is being forced to explain, in the military courts as well as…
LTC Lakin update
Should you want to follow the case – from a defense perspective – here are the three most common websites to follow. WorldNetDaily. This piece about commentary from MG Paul Vallely, USA, appears to be the latest piece: “Retired Army general: LtCol Lakin has a ‘valid point.’ The filing of…
Hamdaniya accused gets temporary reprieve
An accused has a limited right to counsel in the military. A very common event for defense counsel is PCS, release from active duty, and orders to deployment. Marine Corps Times reports: A military appeals court has thrown out the 2007 conviction of a Marine infantry squad leader accused of…
LTC Lakin update
The safeguardourconstitution.com website has posted the charge sheet for LTC Lakin. WND reports that: The filing of charges may, however, be part of the still-unrevealed strategy Lakin and his legal counselors are pursuing. Not sure what “strategy” there is in making sure your client announces he will commit an offense,…