Missouri man appeals death sentence after attorneys failed to press jury foreman’s bias

Missouri man appeals death sentence after attorneys failed to press jury foreman’s bias

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The Petitions of the Week column highlights some of the cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here.

People held in state prison can turn to federal court to challenge the validity of their conviction or sentence. But they face a high bar in doing so: They have to convince a federal trial judge that their state conviction or sentence was “unreasonable,” and if they fail in that … Read the rest

What Do Plaintiffs’ Lawyers’ Pre-Filing Press Releases Signify?

One of the procedural innovations the PSLRA introduced was the requirement that plaintiffs’ counsel who file a securities class action lawsuit complaint must issue a press release announcing the complaint’s filing and notifying prospective class members of the opportunity to seek to become lead plaintiff. Plaintiffs’ lawyers quickly realized the potential publicity value for them from this exercise. Over time, related practices have developed, including the now commonplace practice in which plaintiffs’ lawyers issue a press release before they have … Read the rest