Articles Posted in Up Periscope

The UCLA Law Review has an excellent series of articles about forensic “science.” The primary article: The methods, techniques, and reliability of the forensic sciences in general, and the pattern identification disciplines in particular, have faced significant scrutiny in recent years. Critics have attacked the scientific basis for the assumptions and claims made by forensic…

Karen Franklin reviews an excellent book on the important subject of sex offender treatments that may work. An interesting comment related to: Denial: Not necessarily a bad thing One of the most unusual features of the Rockwood program is its emphasis on helping men who continue to deny their offenses despite having been convicted. The…

The Supreme Court has decided Michigan v. Bryant, a confrontation clause case. Professor Friedman has this to say: A very unfortunate result. The vote was 6-2, per Justice Sotomayor (a surprise to me); the basis of the decision was that the primary purpose of the statements was to resolve an ongoing emergency (also a surprise…

HotAir has this interesting perspective, with some more background “facts,” on the recent issue of manipulating the media and Congress. Rolling Stones shot at General Caldwell misfires.

Stars & Stripes reports: In response to Rolling Stone’s article accusing a top general in Afghanistan of instructing subordinates to use psychological operations techniques on visiting U.S. dignitaries, the general’s chief spokesman, Lt. Col. Shawn Stroud, has sent a “personal message” to colleagues and members of the media to “categorically deny the assertion.” New York…

The Post & Email has a piece titled: Citizen to Sen. Scott Brown: Investigate Alleged Military Corruption: SENATOR IS AWOL WHEN IT COMES TO CONVICTED SERGEANT OF MARINES FROM HIS OWN STATE. The following letter was sent by Sgt. Timothy J. Harrington to Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown regarding Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins, who was court-martialed and…

AP reports: Eight years ago, a child protection investigator and a deputy sheriff removed a 9-year-old Oregon girl from her classroom and questioned her at length as to whether her father had sexually abused her. According to the girl, they wouldn’t take “no” for an answer, and she falsely incriminated her father. Based on the…

Thanks to Howard Bashman at How Appealing, here is a link to United States v. Steen, a Fifth Circuit case involving a prosecution under 18 U. S. Code § 2251(a). Alan Ray Steen appeals his jury conviction for one count of production of child pornography for video he surreptitiously recorded in a tanning salon, while…

It looks like some Blazier trailers are starting to come out: United States v. Dollar: We consider whether the preadmission of two drug testing reports violated the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment. In light of United States v. Blazier, 69 M.J. 218 (C.A.A.F. 2010) (Blazier II), we find error under the Confrontation Clause and…

Military.com reports: The Air Force has started drug testing airmen for synthetic forms of marijuana this week, making it the first service to announce such screening. What actually they will be testing for is clear. But it’s not spice, which is actually salvia divornium; that can’t be tested for currently. Other drugs incorrectly called “spice”…