Articles Posted in UCMJ

CAAFLog advises that Pendergrass v. Indiana, No. 09-866, is scheduled for the 10 June case conference at the Supremes. Here courtesy of Prof. Freidman counsel for Pendergrass and also of Melendez-Diaz and Briscoe “fame,” is the Pendergrass cert petition. Here also is the state of Indiana’s brief in opposition to certiorari at this link. The…

Navy Time reports: Thirteen junior officers were kicked out of the Marine Corps last week after officials uncovered widespread cheating on a land navigation exam. All 13 were students at The Basic School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., a six-month boot camp for newly commissioned officers. Eight men — including two former football players…

Marine Corps Times reports: A man who pleaded guilty last year to altering an identification card after he was spotted in the uniform of a three-star Marine general has been charged again with posing as a highly decorated Marine officer. Sixty-seven-year-old Michael Hamilton of Richlands was charged last week with wearing a Marine colonel’s uniform…

The LA Times has interesting piece which essentially posits that both the defense and Congress are being stonewalled in production of relevant information. Usually it’s only the defense. But even before the gavel comes down, two legal battles are underway to try to force the Army and the Department of Justice to turn over documents…

In United States v. Eslinger, __ M.J. ___ (A. Ct. Crim. App. 14 May 2010), the court has set out a useful reminder in two areas: a military judge’s duty to instruct on all issues and the potential problem of defense waiver of instructions, and how to handle testimony that an accused does or doesn’t…

Here are some CAAF grants/issues that should resonate in the field. No. 10-0332/AF. U.S. v. Yolanda FLORES. CCA S31621. Review granted on the following issue: WHETHER TRIAL COUNSEL IMPROPERLY COMMENTED ON APPELLANT’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT THUS DEPRIVING APPELLANT OF A FAIR TRIAL. No. 10-0334/AF. U.S. v. Dennis R. SAVARD. CCA 37346. Review granted…

Federal Evidence Review notes the following: In conspiracy to distribute controlled substances prosecution, physician-defendant could not assert that the medical records of his patients were subject to a doctor-patient privilege because the federal courts do not recognize this privilege under FRE 501, in United States v. Bek, 493 F.3d 790 (7th Cir. July 6, 2007)…

In United States v. Serianne, the CAAF affirmed an NMCCA decision that a Navy order to report civilian DWI/DUI convictions was unlawful and not enforceable at court-martial. Navy Times reports: The Navy’s self-reporting requirement for drunken driving arrests will fundamentally change as a result of a recent military court ruling, the Navy’s top lawyer said.…

NMCCA denied Quintanilla’s petition in which he sought to have the court overturn the ruling of the military judge at his sentencing rehearing to the effect that Life Without Parole (LWOP) is not an authorized sentence in his case. Alternatively, the petitioner requested that this court direct the military judge to grant the petitioner’s motion…

The King James (UK) version of Proverbs 18-17 says: He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. The King James (Am.) version says: He that is first in his own cause seems just; but his neighbor comes and searches him. The New Living Testament (2007) says:…