Law Commons^™

In Defense Of American Criminal Justice, J. H. Wilkinson, Iii

Vanderbilt Law Review

The American criminal justice system is on trial. A chorus of commentators-often but not exclusively in the legal academy-has leveled a sharp indictment of criminal process in our country. The indictment charges that large flaws infect nearly every stage of the adjudicatory process. And the prescriptions are equally far-reaching, with calls for abolition of many current practices and an overhaul of the entire system. What is more, the critics issue their condemnations essentially as givens, often claiming that all reasonable people could not help but agree that fair treatment of the accused has been fatally compromised. For these critics, "We …

The Right To Counsel During Custodial Interrogation: Equivocal References To An Attorney-Determining What Statements Or Conduct Should Constitute An Accused's Invocation Of The Right To Counsel, Matthew W.D. Bowman

Vanderbilt Law Review

The fifth amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees to all persons the privilege against compelled self-incrimination. In Miranda v. Arizona, the United States Supreme Court interpreted the fifth amendment to require a specified set of procedural safeguards that law enforcement officers must follow to protect adequately each individual's fifth amendment rights. The Miranda safeguards require that prior to an accused's custodial interrogation, government officials must inform the accused that he has the right to remain silent; that any of his statements maybe used against him in a subsequent criminal action; that he has the right to confer with counsel; …

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Constitutional Law--Due Process--Replevin Statutes Allowing Seizure of Property Without Notice and Opportunity for Hearing Violate Due Process Clause of Fourteenth Amendment

Constitutional Law--Right to Counsel--Absent Waiver,No Defendant May Be Imprisoned Unless Represented By Counsel At Trial

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure-Class Actions-Class Action Alleging Similar Injury by Separate Defendants Who Acted Similarly but Independently Allowed Under Rule 23(b)(3)

Securities Regulation--Securities Act of 1933-Access Of All Offerees To Additional Desired Information Required For Section 4(2) Private Offering Exemption

Torts-Joint Tort-feasors--Apportionment of Damages Among Negligent Joint Tort-feasors Based upon Relative Responsibility of Parties

Covert Contingencies In The Right To The Assistance Of Counsel, Abraham S. Blumberg

Vanderbilt Law Review

On the basis of a sociological survey showing that a very large percentage of guilty pleas are induced by defense counsel, Professor Blumberg concludes that criminal justice is not structured on the adversary model which the Supreme Court's right to counsel decisions presuppose. He submits that the primary loyalty of defense counsel is to the criminal court "system," the informal organization of court officials on which they depend for their professional existence. He suggests further that the additional attorneys which will be required to implement the right to counsel decisions will simply serve to make the"system" more efficient in utilizing …

Justice William 0. Douglas And The Concept Of A "Fair Trial", Helen S. Thomas

Vanderbilt Law Review

This article seeks briefly to demonstrate the ways in which this basic commitment of Justice Douglas bear on particular constitutional issues, particularly with regard to criminal cases. The article treats these issues under five general headings: detention; the right to counsel; bail; the right to trial by jury; and trial procedures. Some overlapping between sections cannot be avoided; but it is hoped that this organization will bring the problems more sharply into focus.