Law Commons^™

Obtaining The Release Of Grand Jury Evidence In Ponzi Cases, The Hon. Steven Rhodes

Golden Gate University Law Review

Evidence that law enforcement authorities obtain through the grand jury process is generally secret. Nevertheless, case law can provide a powerful basis for a trustee, a receiver or any party in a Ponzi case to obtain evidence that the government has in its possession as a result of its investigation of a Ponzi scheme. This Article considers the extent to which parties in a Ponzi scheme insolvency proceeding might be able to obtain evidence presented in a criminal grand jury proceeding relating to the Ponzi scheme.

Cite as 42 Golden Gate U. L. Rev.657 (2012).

Possession Of Reading Material And Intent To Commit A Crime In United States V. Curtin, Anna L. Benvenue

Golden Gate University Law Review

The majority opinion in United States v. Curtin held that simple possession of reading material can be evidence of a defendant's criminal intent, even without proof that the accused ever read the materials. Circuit Judge Stephen S. Trott, who wrote the majority decision, overruled prior Ninth Circuit precedent that would have made such evidence inadmissible as irrelevant under Federal Rule of Evidence 401. However, the majority also found the district court judge's failure to properly analyze the evidence under Rule 403 warranted reversal and remand. As a result, the remaining seven judges on the panel filed or joined concurrences, rather …

Lajoie V. Thompson: Does The Ninth Circuit Grant Young Victims Less Protection Under Rape Shield Statutes?, Crystal Dykman

Golden Gate University Law Review

In LaJoie v. Thompson, the Ninth Circuit held that the trial court's preclusion of evidence regarding the victim's prior sexual abuse by others as a sanction for LaJoie's failure to comply with the 15-day notice requirement in Oregon's rape shield law violated LaJoie's Sixth Amendment rights. The Ninth Circuit further held that the preclusion of this evidence regarding the prior sexual abuse of the victim warranted habeas relief. In Part II, this Note discusses LaJoie's facts and procedural history. Part III outlines the history of the Habeas Corpus statutes and discusses the Oregon and Federal rape shield statutes, with an …

Deaf Justice?: Battered Women Unjustly Imprisoned Prior To The Enactment Of Evidence Code Section 1107, Scott G. Baker

Golden Gate University Law Review

On March 5, 1993, Assembly Bill 2295 (hereinafter AB 2295) was introduced by Assembly Member Barbara Friedman. On October 11, 1993, the Governor of the State of California vetoed AB 2295. Assembly Bill 2295 was designed to provide a fair and even application of the law to those individuals affected by the issue of battered woman syndrome (hereinafter BWS). Battered women charged with criminal activity after January 1, 1992 are permitted to present battered woman syndrome expert testimony at their trials pursuant to Evidence Code Section 1107.8 Battered women convicted prior to this date remain unjustly imprisoned because they have …

Criminal Procedure - United States V. Restrepo: Uncharged Conduct Now Considered In The Ninth Circuit Under Federal Sentencing Guidelines, Matthew A. Goodin

Golden Gate University Law Review

In United States v. Restrepo, the Ninth Circuit, on a petition for rehearing, held that conduct of which the defendant was neither charged nor convicted could be taken into consideration at the defendant's sentencing hearing. The court reasoned that this interpretation is consistent with the clear intent of the United States Sentencing Commission and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The Ninth Circuit also held that when considering uncharged conduct at defendant's post-conviction sentencing hearing, a preponderance of the evidence standard is sufficient for due process concerns. When used to enhance a sentence, however, a more demanding interpretation of the standard is …