Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
In two days CAAF has granted two urinalysis cases citing to Melendez-Diaz. Note Blazier is still undecided. In the Air Force case the defense did not object, in the Navy case the defense did object.
No. 10-0668/AF. U.S. v. Jerrod D. NUTT. CCA S31600. Review granted on the following issues:
WHETHER, UNDER MELENDEZ-DIAZ v. MASACHUSETTS, 129 S.CT. 2527 (2009), THE ADMISSION OF THE DRUG TESTING REPORT VIOLATES APPELLANT’S SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS UNDER THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE.
WHETHER TRIAL DEFENSE COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO OBJECT TO THE ADMISSION OF THE DRUG LABORATORY REPORT AT TRIAL FORFEITED THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE ISSUE, AND, IF SO, DID ADMISSION OF THE DRUG TESTING REPORT CONSTITUTE PLAIN ERROR?
WHETHER THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE WAS SATISFIED BY TESTIMONY FROM DR. TURNER.
IF DR. TURNER’S TESTIMONY DID NOT ITSELF SATISFY THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE, WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE NEVERTHELESS HARMLESS BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE IF HE WAS QUALIFIED AS, AND TESTIFIED AS, AN EXPERT UNDER M.R.E. 703?
No. 10-0461/NA. U.S. v. Joseph A. SWEENEY. CCA 200900468. Review granted on the following issues:
WHETHER, IN LIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT’S RULING IN MELENDEZ-DIAZ v. MASSACHUSETTS, 557 U.S. ___, 129 S.CT. 2527 (2009), THE ADMISSION INTO EVIDENCE OF THE NAVY DRUG SCREENING LABORATORY URINALYSIS DOCUMENTS VIOLATED APPELLANT’S SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO CONFRONT THE WITNESSES AGAINST HIM.
WHETHER TRIAL DEFENSE COUNSEL’S OBJECTION TO THE DRUG LABORATORY REPORT CONSTITUTED A VALIDCRAWFORD OBJECTION. IF NOT, THEN WHETHER TRIAL DEFENSE COUNSEL WAIVED OR FORFEITED THE CONFRONTATION CLAUSE ISSUE, AND, IF FORFEITED, WHETHER ADMISSION OF THE REPORT CONSTITUTED PLAIN ERROR.