June 6, 2013
The Fifth Amendment is usually described as protecting the rights of criminal defendants, but, since anyone can be accused of crimes, the amendment actually extends to all citizens. Although the Constitution does not specifically say so, it establishes an accusatorial rather than an inquisitorial system. Thus, the Fifth Amendment is based on the presumption that […]
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August 29, 2012
(US criminal law) In a unanimous vote, the California Supreme Court has ruled that the state must limit prison sentences for juveniles convicted of non-homicide crimes, a declaration that directly reflects pre-existing U.S. criminal law. Their decision was based on facts presented by Graham v. Florida, a 2010 United States Supreme Court case in which […]
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