Con Crim Pro Flashcards
Does 5A privilege against self-incrimination apply to evidence generating civil or corporate liability?
NO, only CRIMINAL liability
May judge decide facts that expose D to greater punishment?
NO, only jury can decide aggravating circumstances
Is a spontaneous/volunteered statement after invoking right to counsel admissible?
yes, so long as not prompted by police
Must attorney advance all legitimate legal claims requested by client?
NO, he may use professional judgment to decide
Is exclusion based on race in grand jury permissible?
No, impermissible EPC violation
What level of suspicion is required by school officials to conduct search of student?
Reasonable suspicion
May police search non-named parties while executing warrant?
Yes, but only if there is INDEPENDENT JUSTIFICATION for the search
Does inmate have reasonable expectation of privacy in his cell?
NO
Is questioning at a police station always an interrogation?
No, if parties are informed that they are free to leave
Does a paying client have right to counsel of his choice?
Yes, barring limitations/public policy issues
Can mandatory presumptions against D be included in jury instructions?
NO, presumptions cannot be made in relation to any element of the charged crime
If open field is partially covered and is surrounded by thick forest, is it still open field for purposes of 4A?
Yes, no privacy expectations
Does 6A right to counsel attach if a jail sentence is possible?
No, only if the person is ACTUALLY given a jail sentence
(realistically this means counsel will be appointed whenever there is risk)
Does Brady (mandatory turnover of exculpatory evidence) apply to evidence that prosecution is not aware of?
YES, can apply to evidence that police are aware of
Does Brady penalize any failure to disclose exculpatory evidence regardless of actual prejudice?
Not necessarily–only if defendant shows DP rights have ACTUALLY been prejudiced by failure to disclose
Standard = favorable + material (reasonable probability of different outcome)
Can states create IQ cutoff to require finding of competence?
No, 8A prohibits states from making rules preventing a person from being found incompetent
If police approach someone with guns drawn and ask them an incriminating question, is this sufficient to establish that statement was involuntary?
Usually NO (need totality of circumstances argument)
Usually better bet for answer is lack of Miranda
If police have a valid warrant and proceed to knock and announce, but no one is home, may they gain forceful entry of the home?
YES, may force door/window open to enter
Does derivative-use immunity apply to subsequent civil proceedings?
No, only subsequent CRIMINAL proceedings
When can a court order exclusion of a witness from the courtroom?
WHENEVER party requests, a court MUST exclude witnesses, unless an exception applies
Exceptions when witness CANNOT be excluded from courtroom?
Officer or employee of party that is NOT natural person (e.g. police officer in charge of investigating crime)
Once purpose of warrant is satisfied, may search be continued?
NO, if purpose is e.g. to ascertain cause of fire, once source is found, search must END
Can non-police execute administrative warrants?
Yes, other govt officers like firefighters
When does undercover police investigation violate D’s rights?
If no 5A Miranda warning given + questioning is about crime that has NOT yet been charged: NOT a violation
If 6A right to counsel has been invoked and is attached, interrogation is critical stage, so if questioning is related to SAME case for which arrest occurred: THIS IS A VIOLATION
What is minimum number of jurors in criminal trial?
6
When may judge issue sentence related to finding of fact to increase penalty?
Rarely–usually in province of JURY
BUT may impose sentence higher penalty on basis of PRIOR CONVICTION
Dual Sovereignty Doctrine
Prosecution of D by federal govt does NOT prevent STATE from prosecuting defendant for same event (reverse also true)
May also be prosecuted for same crime in 2 DIFFERENT STATES
Is testimony given under grant of immunity coerced?
YES, therefore involuntary
Can GJ testimony for which use and derivative use is given be used solely to impeach?
NO, neither for impeachment nor substantive evidence
When may civil litigants in fed court request jury trial + when must filing occur
For ANY claim where amount exceeds $20
1) must be served within 14 days after last pleading directed to that issue and 2) filed to court within reasonable time after