Zieler v. State — Florida Supreme Court affirms death sentences for 1990 double murder solved by cold-case DNA hit
Case Joseph Zieler v. State of Florida Court Supreme Court of Florida Judge Per Curiam Date Decided April 16, 2026
Uncategorized
Criminal
Uncategorized
State v. Russell — Oklahoma appeals court reverses suppression of defendant’s statements, holding he was not in Miranda custody while standing outside his home during a search warrant execution
Case State of Oklahoma v. Cody Owen Russell Court Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals Date Decided April 16, 2026 Docket
Uncategorized
People v. Superior Court (Austin) — Judge Who Was Former Homicide Prosecutor Must Be Disqualified from Racial Justice Act Hearing Challenging That Office’s Charging Practices
Fourth District grants writ of mandate disqualifying a judge from presiding over a California Racial Justice Act hearing because her prior service as a homicide prosecutor in the same District Attorney’s Office whose charging practices are under review created an appearance of bias.
Uncategorized
People v. Harzan — Conviction Reversed Where Trial Court Forced Defendant to Choose Between Entrapment Defense and Excluding Decades-Old Sexual Misconduct Evidence
Fourth District reverses conviction where the trial court forced the defendant to choose between asserting a valid entrapment defense and admission of decades-old sexual misconduct evidence from his teenage years, holding that the conditioning violated his constitutional right to present a defense.
Uncategorized
State v. Hauser — Conviction reversed; bar owner’s consent to possession of drinks negated theft charge
Case State of Ohio v. Patricia Hauser Court Ohio Court of Appeals, First Appellate District Judge Bock (elected 2020) Date
Uncategorized
State v. Snow — Affirmed domestic violence conviction for punching 10-year-old; clarified physical harm doesn’t require observable injury; remanded for jail-time credit
Case State of Ohio v. Cierra Snow Court Ohio Court of Appeals, First Appellate District Judge NESTOR (elected 2024) Date
Uncategorized
In re Sebastian C. — Family Home with Community-Based Programming May Qualify as Less Restrictive Program Under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 875
First District holds that placement in a family member’s home with community-based programming and supervision can qualify as a “less restrictive program” under Welfare and Institutions Code section 875(f), even though the appeal was dismissed as moot after the youth was placed wit
Uncategorized
Washington v. Virginia — Affirmed conviction; police had reasonable suspicion for Terry stop and lawful authority to frisk backpack even after defendant was handcuffed
Case Devon Lamar Washington v. Commonwealth of Virginia Court Court of Appeals of Virginia Judge Kimberley Slayton White (elected 2022)
Uncategorized
State v. Gonsalves — Connecticut Appellate Court reverses accessory liability convictions where evidence lacked proof of specific intent to cause serious injury
Case State of Connecticut v. Frank Gonsalves Court Connecticut Appellate Court Judge Palmer (appointment info not available) Date Decided April
Uncategorized
Walcott v. Commissioner of Correction — Connecticut Appellate Court affirms denial of habeas petition, rejects ineffective assistance and Brady violation claims
Case Shanoah Walcott v. Commissioner of Correction Court Connecticut Appellate Court Judge Seeley (Ned Lamont, 2022) Date Decided April 14,
Uncategorized
State v. Perez Garcia — Idaho Supreme Court affirms prison sentence where defendant’s ongoing federal immigration violation made probation compliance impossible
Case State of Idaho v. Jesus Agustin Perez Garcia Court Idaho Supreme Court Judge Meyer (Brad Little, 2023) Date Decided
Uncategorized
State v. Lacy — Affirmed theft conviction; Tennessee had territorial jurisdiction over Kentucky defendant who used texts and emails to direct wire transfer from Tennessee
Case State of Tennessee v. Ronald Matthew Lacy Court Supreme Court of Tennessee Judge SARAH K. CAMPBELL (Bill Lee, 2022)
Uncategorized
R.G.C. v. State of New Jersey — Appellate Division affirms denial of “clean slate” expungement, holding that failure to pay restitution without documentary evidence of inability constitutes willful noncompliance
Case In the Matter of the Expungement of the Criminal/Juvenile Records of R.G.C. Court New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division
Uncategorized
People v. Espiritu — Trial Court’s Failure to Recognize Presumptively Invalid Reason for Peremptory Challenge Requires Reversal Under Section 231.7
Fourth District reverses convictions in sexual assault case where the trial court failed to recognize that a peremptory challenge based on a juror’s nursing occupation was presumptively invalid under Code of Civil Procedure section 231.7, holding that defense counsel’s failure to specifi
Uncategorized
State v. Reynoso — Appellate court reversed conviction, finding Miranda waiver involuntary due to inadequate parental safeguards and police misstatements about defendant’s freedom to leave
Case State of New Jersey v. Christopher Reynoso Court New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division Judge Susswein (Chief Justice Stuart
Uncategorized
State v. Holland — Nebraska Supreme Court holds jeopardy never attached to assault charge dismissed under plea deal, affirming felony prosecution
Case State of Nebraska v. Jestin C. Holland Court Nebraska Supreme Court Judge Papik (Pete Ricketts, 2018) Date Decided April
Uncategorized
In re Personal Restraint of Bin-Bellah — Washington Supreme Court upholds multiple assault convictions from single incident based on defendant’s guilty plea and factual stipulations
Case In re Personal Restraint of Akeel Bin-Bellah Court Washington Supreme Court (En Banc) Judge Gonzalez, J. (Chris Gregoire, 2011)
Uncategorized
McKelvy v. State — Oklahoma court reverses felony judgment entered for a single failed drug test, holding a technical probation violation cannot support acceleration to conviction
Case BRITTANY DAWN MCKELVY v. THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA Court Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals Date Decided April 9, 2026
Uncategorized
State v. Barse — North Dakota Supreme Court affirms sentence, holds defendant bears burden to prove entitlement to credit for time served
Case State of North Dakota v. Anthony Duggan Barse Court North Dakota Supreme Court Judge Fair McEvers (Jack Dalrymple, 2014)
Uncategorized
Adams v. State — North Dakota Supreme Court affirms denial of postconviction relief on ineffective assistance of counsel claim
Case Jarrod Jashawn Adams v. State of North Dakota Court North Dakota Supreme Court Judge Per Curiam Date Decided April
Uncategorized
Garcia v. State — North Dakota Supreme Court affirms dismissal of untimely postconviction relief application
Case Steven Allen Garcia v. State of North Dakota Court North Dakota Supreme Court Judge Lisa Fair McEvers (Jack Dalrymple,
Uncategorized
State v. Romanyshyn — North Dakota Supreme Court affirms conviction for violating a disorderly conduct restraining order, rejecting collateral attack based on reversal of a separate order
Case State of North Dakota v. Richard Edwin Romanyshyn Court North Dakota Supreme Court Judge Douglas A. Bahr (Doug Burgum,
Uncategorized
Conica v. State — North Dakota Supreme Court affirms dismissal of postconviction relief application without evidentiary hearing
Case Chad Dennis Conica v. State of North Dakota Court North Dakota Supreme Court Judge Per Curiam Date Decided April
Uncategorized
State v. Rosen — New Hampshire Supreme Court reverses double-voting conviction on evidentiary grounds, remands for new trial
Case State of New Hampshire v. Richard Rosen Court Supreme Court of New Hampshire Judge DONOVAN (Chris Sununu, 2018) Date