Law Commons^™

Reinforcing The Hague Convention On Taking Evidence Abroad After Blocking Statutes, Data Privacy Directives, And Aerospatiale, Brian Friederich

San Diego International Law Journal

There has always been tension between European countries and the United States on the topic of evidence gathering. Much of that tension stems from the inherent differences between common and civil policies and methods. Until the Hague Convention, the process for obtaining evidence abroad was cumbersome and unreliable. The Hague Convention sought to change that by providing signatory countries more effective methods of cooperating with each other in international litigation. However, the Hague Convention has not been able to achieve its purpose, at least not in the United States. U.S. courts have interpreted the Hague Convention as optional, meaning it …

Dickerson V. United States: The Case That Disappointed Miranda's Critics--And Then Its Supporters, Yale Kamisar

University of San Diego Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper Series

It is difficult, if not impossible, to discuss Dickerson v. United States intelligently without discussing Miranda, whose constitutional status Dickerson reaffirmed (or, one might say, resuscitated). It is also difficult, if not impossible, to discuss the Dickerson case intelligently without discussing cases the Court has handed down in the five years since Dickerson was decided. The hard truth is that in those five years the reaffirmation of Miranda’s constitutional status has become less and less meaningful.

In this paper I want to focus on the Court’s characterization of statements elicited in violation of the Miranda warnings as not actually “coerced” …

Securing A Journalist's Testimonial Privilege In The International Criminal Court, Anastasia Heeger

San Diego International Law Journal

This Article argues that given the unique and significant contribution of journalists to uncovering and documenting war crimes, the ICC should amend its evidentiary rules to recognize a qualified journalist's privilege. In doing so, the ICC should clearly identify who may benefit from such a privilege, clarify a procedure for balancing the need of reportorial testimony against prosecution and defense interests, and, lastly provide for mandatory consultations between the court and affected news organizations or journalists before allowing the issuance of a subpoena. Such clarity will benefit not only journalists working in war zones and the ICC, but will provide …

Prior Inconsistent Statements As An Exception To The Hearsay Rule: An Analysis Of People V. Johnson, Kenneth Gleason

San Diego Law Review

In February 1964, Edwin Johnson was indicted by the Yolo County Grand Jury for the crime of incest. The twofold basis of the indictment lay in the testimony of his 15-year-old daughter, Elaine, who stated that he had engaged in an act of sexual intercourse with her on January 11, 1964; and in the testimony of his wife, Eleanor, who claimed that she had observed occasions of sex play between her husband and daughter. At trial in January 1967, however, both witnesses denied that defendant had engaged in any illicit sexual relations with Elaine. To negate these denials, the prosecution, …

Evidence - Hearsay Statement In The Nature Of A Declaration Against A Penal Interest Admissible In Evidence Even Though The Unavailability Of The Dedarant Is Not Established. People V. Spriggs (Cal. 1964), Robert E. Madruga

San Diego Law Review

This recent case discusses People v. Spriggs (Cal. 1964)