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Due Process People V. Scott (Decided June 5, 1996)

Touro Law Review

No abstract provided.

Legal Burdens Of Proof Under U.S. Law, Tsion Chudnovsky

Tsion Chudnovsky, JD

US laws defines that the legal burden of proof standard becomes more strict as potential consequences become higher. So for criminal matters, since they include the possible loss of freedom, the strictest standard applies: Beyond a reasonable doubt.

Defense has to merely illuminate a reasonable doubt about any of the required elements that have to be proven to prevail in a court trial. Criminal jury instructions require jurors unanimously find that the defendant is guilty with moral certainty. There can be no doubt amongst any jurors that the defendant is guilty.

This strict burden benefits the defendant. You can …

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Punishment Without Process: Victim Impact Proceedings For Dead Defendants, Bruce Green, Rebecca Roiphe

Articles & Chapters

After Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in jail, two judges allowed his accusers to speak in court. This article argues that the proceedings were inappropriate because the criminal case ends when the defendant dies. If the conviction and appeal are not final, there is no finding of guilt, and the defendant is still presumed innocent. Allowing accusers to speak at this time violates the principle of due process and threatens to undermine faith in judges and the criminal justice system in general. While courts are at times legally required to hear from victims of crimes, they were not allowed to do …