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Full-Text Articles in Jurisprudence
Would You Like More Salt With That Wound - Post-Sentence Victim Allocution In Texas Comment., Keith D. Nicholson
Would You Like More Salt With That Wound - Post-Sentence Victim Allocution In Texas Comment., Keith D. Nicholson
St. Mary's Law Journal
A majority of states permit victim allocution of some sort, with victim impact statements made during the pre-sentencing stage, but Texas is currently the only state which permits victim allocution after sentencing. Since 1991, no one has seriously challenged the Texas practice of allowing such victim statements. Yet, scenes of violence between families of the defendants and the victims following such statements has ignited a movement to reassess the utility of allowing victims to address defendants who have already received their sentences. Originally, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42.03 provided victims the chance to present a statement after the …
Enhanced Punishment Under The Texas Hate Crimes Act: Politics, Panacea, Or Pathway To Hell., David Todd Smith
Enhanced Punishment Under The Texas Hate Crimes Act: Politics, Panacea, Or Pathway To Hell., David Todd Smith
St. Mary's Law Journal
Nearly without exception, modern legislatures have responded to the reprehensible nature and detrimental social effects of hate crime by enacting laws specifically designed to punish the offender’s discriminatory animus. The term “hate crime” describes criminal conduct which is motivated by the offender’s bias or prejudice against another cognizable group. Although the reprehensible nature of a hate crime is often apparent from the facts of any given case, the repercussions of these offenses exceed the ignoble character of any one specific act. Texas has now joined the ranks of these jurisdictions by adopting legal provisions which authorize heightened penalties upon a …
Legislative Redistricting In 1991-1992: The Texas Bill Of Rights V. The Voting Rights Act., James C. Harrington, Judith Sanders-Castro
Legislative Redistricting In 1991-1992: The Texas Bill Of Rights V. The Voting Rights Act., James C. Harrington, Judith Sanders-Castro
St. Mary's Law Journal
Every decade, after the federal government has taken the census, Americans endure the process of redistricting Congress, state legislatures, county commissioner precincts, school boards, city councils, and a host of other elected bodies. Governed by the interplay of federal, state, and local law, the reapportionment process would seem to be a relatively easy task in theory. Yet, overriding forces unique to the political arena and the judiciary’s voice in redistricting questions undermine the implementation of such a simple system. Narrow interpretation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by the United State Supreme Court and lower federal courts further intensify …