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Full-Text Articles in Law
Observations On The Insanity Defense And Involuntary Civil Commitment In Europe, John Q. La Fond
Observations On The Insanity Defense And Involuntary Civil Commitment In Europe, John Q. La Fond
Seattle University Law Review
There are several perspectives from which one could analyze the insanity defense and involuntary civil commitment in foreign legal systems. However, the comparative perspective on which this Essay is based focuses on: a) how foreign legal systems formulate and administer the insanity defense; b) how the power of the state is defined to civilly commit mentally ill persons; c) who makes the important decisions and when and how they are made; and d) what happens to offenders who are considered mentally ill and to others who are considered mentally ill and suitable for involuntary commitment.
Unbridled Prosecutorial Discretion And Standardless Death Penalty Policies: The Unconstitutionality Of The Washington Capital Punishment Statutory Scheme, James E. Lobsenz
Unbridled Prosecutorial Discretion And Standardless Death Penalty Policies: The Unconstitutionality Of The Washington Capital Punishment Statutory Scheme, James E. Lobsenz
Seattle University Law Review
This Article advances six reasons why Washington's statutory scheme for capital punishment should be deemed unconstitutional. The current death penalty statutes violate the separation of powers doctrine, the grand jury indictment clause of the fifth amendment, the equal protection clauses of the fourteenth amendment and article I, section 12 of the Washington State Constitution, the vagueness doctrine of the due process clause, and the doctrine of unlawful delegation of legislative power. Finally, it promotes an unequal administration of capital punishment in further violation of the guarantee of equal protection of the law.
Confronting Child Victims Of Sex Abuse: The Unconstitutionality Of The Sexual Abuse Hearsay Exception, Katrin E. Frank
Confronting Child Victims Of Sex Abuse: The Unconstitutionality Of The Sexual Abuse Hearsay Exception, Katrin E. Frank
Seattle University Law Review
This Comment first analyzes Washington’s hearsay exception Act in the light of the principles that form the basis for the hearsay rule and its exceptions. It then examines the effect of the Act on the preexisting hearsay rules. Next, it compares the concept of unavailability as used in the hearsay exceptions with the concept of incompetence; both concepts are then analyzed according to the requirements of the hearsay rules and the confrontation clause. The Comment concludes that the Act is unconstitutional because it permits admission of hearsay of testimonially incompetent children.
Inculpatory Statements Against Penal Interest: State V. Parris Goes Too Far, James E. Beaver, Cheryl Mccleary
Inculpatory Statements Against Penal Interest: State V. Parris Goes Too Far, James E. Beaver, Cheryl Mccleary
Seattle University Law Review
This article first demonstrates that courts historically did not trust penal interest statements in general, and that courts were extremely suspicious of any statements by a third party that implicated the defendant. Since Washington adopted Federal Rule of Evidence 804(b)(3) verbatim, this article then analyzes the legislative history of the rule. The article concludes that the legislative history favored exclusion of inculpatory statements but that Congress failed to codify the exclusion because of unrelated problems. Finally, the article discusses the confrontation clause problems that arise when inculpatory statements are allowed into evidence. This article argues that the Parris holding should …