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Multiple Petty Offenses With Serious Penalties: A Case For The Right To Trial By Jury, Christine E. Pardo
Multiple Petty Offenses With Serious Penalties: A Case For The Right To Trial By Jury, Christine E. Pardo
Fordham Urban Law Journal
This Note outlines the history and development of the petty offense exception and the Supreme Court's jury trial entitlement jurisprudence. In particular, it discusses the fundamental principle of gauging criminal seriousness by the length of a penalty as authorized by statute. This Note sets out the Circuit split and explains why the courts are divided on the aggregation issue. It argues that courts must aggregate maximum penalties for multiple petty offenses charged together to accurately reflect legislative determinations of criminal seriousness. It also criticizes the use of pre-trial sentencing stipulations to circumvent trial by jury when it would otherwise be …
Dispelling The Myths About The "Battered Woman's Defense:" Towards A New Understanding, Michael Dowd
Dispelling The Myths About The "Battered Woman's Defense:" Towards A New Understanding, Michael Dowd
Fordham Urban Law Journal
This essay explores the growth of the use of self-defense by battered women from a historical perspective in order to explain the magnitude of the prejudices these defendants face. The essay suggests that a redefinition of Battered Woman's Syndrome will ease much of the criticism from feminists and eliminate the confusion in the legal profession surrounding the use of self-defense by battered women. The essay also pushes for a redefinition of the concept of "imminence" to encompass the realities of a battered woman's life.