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The Alford Plea: Guilty But Innocent

The gray areas of law are rarely as black and white as with the Alford Plea—innocent but guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. While it may serve to bend the rules of the law, this plea can sometimes be the only recourse the accused have at maintaining their innocence. more...

Renee M. Hykel, Esq. - Dec 2011 - More Crimes & Trials
Why Can’t Some Juries Convict on Circumstantial Evidence?

Much of the public may not have sympathized with O.J. Simpson and Casey Anthony, but was it the jury's fault that much of the evidence was circumstantial and therefore with enough reasonable doubt to acquit them? And so the controversy surrounding circumstantial evidence continues. more...

Michelle Fabio, Esq. - Nov 2011 - More Litigation
Craziest Crime Stories of 2009

2009 will likely be known as a difficult year for Americans. But not everything was so grim for 2009! Luckily, there were a lot of silly criminals out there to keep things light. From white collar to "you have to be kidding," take a look at some of the wacky criminals, large and small, which made our 2009 so interesting.

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Katherine Butler - Jan 2010 - More Crimes & Trials
Students or Scoundrels: College Pranks Gone Bad

For many, college pranks are a rite of passage. They can be clever and funny, but they're not always legal. Good students with impressive credentials can find themselves on the Dean's List one day and the court roster the next. Knowing where to draw the line is essential.
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Lisa C. Johnson - Sep 2009 - More Crimes & Trials
Can Martha Stewart ever vote again?

Martha Stewart, securities broker turned Queen of All Things Domestic, recently saw her pristine reputation smudged. She faced felony convictions for obstructing justice, conspiracy, and making false statements regarding her sale of $228,000 of ImClone Systems stock. more...

Michelle Kaminsky, Esq. - Oct 2007 - More Crimes & Trials
Criminal Defenses: Excuse and Exculpation Defenses

You're on trial for a crime, but you don't think you should be convicted even though yes, you did commit the crime. Is this possible? Absolutely. Understand the possible defenses in a criminal court case and you may be allowed to technically break the law, but not be found innocent of wrong-doing. more...

Beverly Rice - Jul 2006 - More Crimes & Trials
Paris Hilton is really going to jail?

As you may have heard, Paris Hilton is headed to jail. Upon facing 45 days in a state run correctional facility, Hilton filed an appeal and even begun a petition on the social networking website Myspace.com to ask Governor Schwarzenegger to keep her out of jail. Her pleas have gone answered - sort of. Her sentence was reduced to a mere 23 days due to overcrowding but yes she is headed for prison. more...

Corie Lynn Rosen - More Crimes & Trials
Police Lineups: Are they reliable?

We've all seen lineups in movies and countless TV shows. The stern cop asks the scared woman: "Do you recognize the perpetrator, Mrs. Thompson?" The victim cries and points at the shifty-eyed guy in the little hat. Then, the crime is solved! But, do lineups really work? more...

Ellen Rosner Feig - More Crimes & Trials
Runaway Bride? Why Georgia Isn't Letting Her Off the Hook...

Whatever 32-year-old Jennifer Wilbanks of Duluth, Georgia, might have dreamed, surely it didn't involve a bright afghan draped over her head as she returned from a cross-country disappearing act on the morning of what was supposed to be her wedding day. But all's well that ends well, right? Not exactly. more...

Michelle Kaminsky - Debate & Controversy
Why Does Sentencing for a Guilty Verdict Take Place in a Separate Proceeding?

When the jury found Scott Peterson guilty of murdering his pregnant wife and their unborn son, the media immediately speculated about his sentence. Why? Because, in criminal cases, the punishment is determined at a separate sentencing. more...

Leanne Phillips - More Crimes & Trials