Criminal Law Commons^™

What’S Wrong With Sentencing Equality?, Richard A. Bierschbach, Stephanos Bibas

Articles

Equality in criminal sentencing often translates into equalizing outcomes and stamping out variations, whether race-based, geographic, or random. This approach conflates the concept of equality with one contestable conception focused on outputs and numbers, not inputs and processes. Racial equality is crucial, but a concern with eliminating racism has hypertrophied well beyond race. Equalizing outcomes seems appealing as a neutral way to dodge contentious substantive policy debates about the purposes of punishment. But it actually privileges deterrence and incapacitation over rehabilitation, subjective elements of retribution, and procedural justice, and it provides little normative guidance for punishment. It also has unintended …

Doe V. O'Donnell And New York's Sex Offender Registration Act: The Problem Of Continued Registration Under Sora After Leaving The State, Samantha R. Millar

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

An Argument Against Civil Marriage, J. David Bleich

Articles

The article argues against the legal recognition of civil marriage, particularly in the context of same-sex marriage as upheld by the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges. The author contends that legal recognition of same-sex marriage conflates moral approval with legal neutrality, leading to potential conflicts between individual conscience and state mandates. Drawing on Talmudic principles and historical legal precedents, the article advocates for the abolition of civil marriage and proposes an alternative system of designating "close friends" for legal purposes to avoid such conflicts.

The Mann Act And Crossing State Lines: Maybe You Should Have Known, Alison Gross

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Hidden Psychology Of Constitutional Criminal Procedure, Jesse-Justin Cuevas, Tonja Jacobi

Cardozo Law Review

There is extensive empirical evidence establishing the difference in men's and women's speech patterns, conduct, and perceptions of, and responses to, police authority. Yet these differences are rarely reflected in constitutional criminal procedure law, despite many of its rules hinging on a person's manner of expression or subtleties of behavior. Similar evidence exists for the systematic impact of juvenile status and intellectual disability, but only modest and ad hoc consideration has been given to these factors. The result is that the "reasonable person" is actually implicitly white, male, adult, and able-minded. His speech and conduct are treated as normal, and …

Fast-Track To Injustice: Rapidly Deporting The Mentally Ill, Aimee L. Mayer-Salins

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

No abstract provided.

Closing Impunity Gaps For The Crime Of Aggression, Jocelyn Getgen Kestenbaum

Articles

As stated at Nuremberg, the crime of aggression is the “supreme international crime, differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.” International instruments clearly and repeatedly have outlawed initiating wars of aggression and other illegal uses of armed force. States parties recently have defined and codified the crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and delineated the scope of the ICC’s jurisdiction over aggression. Although the ICC is an important mechanism for accountability and justice, it is not certain when it will be able to adjudicate …

My Body, My Property, My Baby? The Extension Of Property Rights To Sexual Reproductive Cells And Embryos, Chanel Vegh

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

No abstract provided.

International Accountability In U.S. Law: A Call For Legislation, Jonah Diamond

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

No abstract provided.

Informant Witnesses And The Risk Of Wrongful Convictions, Jessica A. Roth

Articles

Several studies in the last two decades have revealed that false criminal informant testimony is a leading factor in wrongful convictions, along with false confessions, eyewitness misidentification, and faulty forensic science. Although a great deal more remains to be done, many jurisdictions have implemented evidence-based reforms to these last three categories of evidence. Policy about criminal informants, however, seems to be stubbornly stagnant, and relevant social science is virtually nonexistent. This Article questions the relative lack of attention to informant testimony and suggests that the dangers posed by informant testimony are both greater and different than previously thought. Unlike much …

Yamar V. State Of Israel, Hanan Melcer, Daphne Barak-Erez, Uri Shoham

Translated Opinions

This abstract is not part of the Court's opinion and is provided for the reader's convenience. It has been translated from a Hebrew version prepared by Nevo Press Ltd. and is used with its kind permission.]

This is an appeal on a verdict, and alternatively, on the severity of the sentence. The background: On the evening of the fatal event, the Decedent and the Appellant met by chance. The Decedent demanded that the Appellant pay him NIS 1000. Later, the Decedent took the Appellant to a dark parking lot, threatened to beat him if he did not pay the said …

Mahajna V. State, Elyakim Rubinstein, Anat Baron, Salim Joubran

Translated Opinions

The Applicant, the leader of the Northern Faction of the Islamic Movement in Israel, was acquitted by the Magistrates Court of the offense of inciting racism, but was convicted of the offense of inciting violence. The Applicant was accused of the offenses due to a sermon he gave in 2007 to an audience of approximately one thousand people near Jerusalem. The court imposed a sixteen-month sentence upon the Applicant, eight months of which were custodial. Appeals were filed against the judgment by both of the parties. The District Court convicted the Applicant of the offense of inciting racism. The Applicant …

What's Islam Got To Do With It? Obstacles In Securing Fair Trial Rights Under Iran's Repressive Regime, Sara Barlowe

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The note argues that the principle of Velayate Faqhih in Iran undermines the rule of law and prevents the development of a functional criminal justice system. This principle, which establishes the supremacy of Islamic law and grants the Supreme Leader plenary authority over the judiciary, leads to arbitrary law enforcement, corruption, and human rights violations. The case of Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian journalist detained on vague charges of espionage, illustrates how the regime uses detention and torture to suppress dissent and maintain political control. The note contends that Iran’s legal system, dominated by Sharia law and lacking judicial independence, violates …

How Bad Arrests Lead To Bad Prosecution: Exploring The Impact Of Prior Arrests On Plea Bargaining, Besiki Luka Kutateladze, Victoria Z. Lawson

Cardozo Law Review

Arrests and arrest records play an important role in the criminal justice system. Police agencies customarily use suspects' prior record for investigative purposes, and courts use this information to set bail. Yet many arrest practices, and particularly stop-and-frisk, have long been criticized for disproportionately targeting young black and Latino men, and for their overall negative effect on communities of color. Not surprisingly then, arrest practices have received much attention, including among legal scholars and social scientists. However, what effect a prior arrest record has on other decision points, including prosecutorial decision making, is relatively unknown. In particular, we have a …

The Degradation Of Civil Society And Hyper-Aggressive Policing In Communities Of Color In New York City, Donna Lieberman, Kara Dansky

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Never Ending Tale: Racism And Inequality In The Era Of Broken Windows, Jonathan Oberman, Kendea Johnson

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Leaked Memo To West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen From Major Consuelo Antoinette Martinez Regarding The "Raised Black Female Fist" Old Corps Photograph Incident, Yxta Maya Murray

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

This satire responds to the recent United States Military Academy ("USMA" or "West Point') Investigation sixteen African American female cadets who took a photograph of themselves holding up their fists. This work of legal analysis and of the imagination takes the form of an investigatory memo written by afictional Latina West Point official to the (very real) West Point Superintendent Lieutenant General Robert Caslen. In it, I study the legal underpinnings for the investigation, which center on certain Department ofDefense regulations forbidding political activity on the part of military service members. I reveal the race and gender absurdity that cuts …

Regional International Criminal Courts: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?, Firew Kebede Tiba

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

Regionalism in international relations is a fact of life. Regional judicial implementation of international norms is relatively common in the fields of international human rights, international investment, and trade laws. There are attempts to break ground in the realm of international criminal law by creating a regional international criminal court, such as the proposed addition of the criminal jurisdiction to the African Court of Justice and Human Rights. Although there was momentum in creating a universal permanent international criminal court, the enthusiasm for the tribunal's exercise of jurisdiction has not continued. The International Criminal Court ("ICC") will remain short of …

Sampling And Reliability In Class Action Litigation, Hillel J. Bavli

Cardozo Law Review de•novo

In this Article, I explain my conclusions in Aggregating for Accuracy in non-mathematical terms, and underscore certain implications with respect to class action litigation and considerations in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo. I begin by describing the building blocks of my analysis—the concepts of reliability and accuracy in the law.

Said I, 'But You Have No Choice': Why A Lawyer Must Ethically Honor A Client's Decision About Mental Health Treatment Even If It Is Not What S/He Would Have Chosen, Michael L. Perlin, Naomi M. Weinstein

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

The article argues that lawyers representing individuals with mental disabilities have an ethical responsibility to prioritize their clients' expressed preferences and autonomy, rejecting the presumption that substituted decisionmaking is acceptable. It critiques the legal system's reliance on paternalistic approaches and highlights the importance of supported decisionmaking, as mandated by international human rights law, particularly under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The analysis emphasizes the need for legal frameworks and attorney practices to align with therapeutic jurisprudence, which prioritizes psychological well-being and dignity while upholding due process principles.

Assessing Time Served, Patrick A. Woods

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

This article examines the utility of a new way of determining when increased punishment should be imposed pursuant to "three strikes" laws or other recidivist enhancements. In the past two years, Congress and the United States Sentencing Commission are each considering criminal justice reform measures that would use the length of time an offender spent incarcerated as a proxy for the seriousness of his earlier criminal conduct. While this reform seems sound at first glance, this article ultimately concludes that its incorporation into current state and federal sentencing laws must be done carefully, if at all, and that doing so …

Model Or Anti-Model? U.S. Regulatory Takings Doctrine In Foreign Jurisdictions, Melanie Benesh

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

Canada and Australia have taken a different approach to regulatory takings than Peru, despite some similarities among the countries. Like Peru, Canada and Australia both have IIAs with the United States. Like Peru, both have also addressed regulatory takings issues in their domestic jurisprudence since signing those IIAs. And like Peru, both Canada and Australia have looked to U.S. regulatory takings doctrine while developing their own domestic jurisprudence. However, unlike Peru, Canada and Australia have both ultimately decided that the U.S. regulatory takings doctrine would not be viable in their constitutional and political systems. They view U.S. regulatory takings doctrine …

Enhancing The Community Relations Service Arsenal: A Restorative Justice Solution For Community Conflicts With Local Law Enforcement That Have A Race-Relations Basis, David B. Rabbani

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Note proposes that restorative justice should be incorporated by the CRS to promote fairness and to foster a change in the definition of success for the agency to include more permanent and inspiring solutions that have the potential to prevent conflict in other parts of the country. Part A of Section II provides background on the shooting of Michael Brown and the reaction in both Ferguson and the U.S. in general along with perceptions and facts about race-relations in Ferguson. Part B of Section II focuses on the CRS and its creation, history, and methods. Part C of Section …

Reducing Recidivism Of Violent Offenders Through Victim-Offender Mediation: A Fresh Start, Laura Ravinsky

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Note will examine how VOM between victims and violent offenders improves the criminal justice system and reduces recidivism. The Note will propose that there is a better remedy for violent crime than punitive prison sentences absent genuine efforts to reform. In Section II, this Note will discuss the breakdown of the U.S. criminal justice system, particularly the excessive incarceration rate and the ineffectiveness of the current retributive scheme, followed by a history and overview of VOM. Next, it will discuss the issue of prison recidivism, how it affects our society on both a social and economic level, and the …

Gendered Differences In Negotiation: Advancing An Understanding Of Sources, Effects, And Awareness, Stacy M. Roberts

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

Conversations about gendered differences in negotiation have been around for decades. However, recent research about these gendered differences is expanding our understanding of gender stereotypes and role expectations in negotiation. This article reviews some of this research and discusses how awareness of gendered differences can be advantageous to both male and female negotiators.

One's self-identity hinges on more than just gender; for example, cultural values, economic class, ethnic origin, geographic location, group affiliations, hobbies, language and dialect, national citizenship, occupation, personal values, race, religion, self-interests, sexual orientation, social status, etc., also play parts in forming one's self identity. These factors …

Introduction: New Models For Prosecutorial Accountability, Russell Shapiro

Cardozo Law Review de•novo

The criminal justice system in the United States was established on a simple notion: “that it is better that ten guilty persons escape, than that one innocent suffer.” It is for this reason that a prosecutor’s burden at trial is so demanding, requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Yet, while a vast majority of prosecutors are committed to the highest ethical standards, with troubling frequency, some high profile exonerations shed light on systemic problems, most often involving failures by prosecutors and other law enforcement officials to disclose exculpatory and impeachment evidence as required by Brady v. Maryland.

To address …

Prosecuting The Cia: Does The Computer Fraud And Abuse Act Allow For Liability?, Sam Taterka

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Ninth Circuit's Decision In Von Saher V. Norton Simon Museum Of Art At Pasadena: The Invocation Of The Act Of State Doctrine And Its Implications For Future Nazi-Stolen Art Claims, Erica Wolf

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Terrorists And Antiquities: Lessons From The Destruction Of The Bamiyan Buddhas, Current Isis Aggression, And A Proposed Framework For Cultural Property Crimes, Whitney Bren

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Biblical Fool And The Brander: The Law And Economics Of Propertization In American Trademark Law, William P. Kratzke

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

Isaiah 35:8, which tells of 'fools" upon a highway who shall not err, became authority for the position that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should protect fools from deception. This Article examines the biblical passage in context and concludes that it does not support protection of unthinking, credulous people. Ensuing FTC orders based on witnesses' speculation of how fools would construe particular claims actually harmed fools. The FTC retreated Unfortunately, the objective of protecting fools from deception has taken over § 43(a) Lanham Act jurisprudence-but now sellers speculate in competitor lawsuits how fools will construe competitors' claims and undertake to …