Georgia’s High Court Finds No Categorical Right to Counsel in Civil Contempt Proceedings
by David Reutter
The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed an appellate court’s ruling that decertified a plaintiff class of indigent parents who were jailed without being provided counsel following civil contempt proceedings brought by the state Department of ...
GEO Group Rescinds $6 Million Donation to Name Stadium at Florida University
by David M. Reutter
A student-led coalition against naming the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) football stadium after private prison firm GEO Group claimed victory in April 2013, when the company withdrew its $6 million donation to the school ...
Misconduct at Washington State Civil Commitment Center as Concern Grows Over Releases
by David M. Reutter
Washington state’s Special Commitment Center (SCC), which was created to house and treat prisoners classified as violent sexual predators, has become the focus of investigations into staff misconduct. Additionally, the growing number of releases ...
Georgia’s Execution Drug Secrecy Law Found Constitutional
by David Reutter
In a 5-2 ruling, the Georgia Supreme Court held on May 19, 2014 that it is not unconstitutional for the state to keep secret the names and other identifying information of persons and entities involved in executions, including those who ...
Native American Prisoners Have Right to Tobacco in Religious Ceremonies
by David Reutter
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a South Dakota federal district court’s order holding that Native American prisoners have a right under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) to use tobacco during ...
For Shame! Public Shaming Sentences on the Rise
by David M. Reutter
Punishments intended to shame offenders for wrongdoing, popular throughout history, are once again on the rise – particularly as penalties imposed by judges who enjoy seeing their names in the newspaper or on television due to their “creative” ...
Eighth Circuit: Jail Guards Denied Summary Judgment for Use of Force against Detainees
by David Reutter
On April 24, 2014, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of summary judgment to jail guards accused of using excessive force on pre-trial detainees while quelling a riot. However, the appellate ...
Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law Struck Down, Some Prisoners Released
by David M. Reutter
In December 2013, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the state’s version of Megan’s Law, holding the legislature had violated the “single subject” rule of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
The Court’s ruling resulted from an appeal filed by James ...
Florida Supreme Court: Review of Parole Commission Revocation Order Limited
by David M. Reutter
On January 23, 2014, the Florida Supreme Court quashed an appellate court’s order because it exceeded the scope of second-tier review of a prisoner’s habeas corpus petition challenging the revocation of his conditional release.
The petition, ...
Georgia: Mandamus Available to Compel Law Library Access
by David Reutter
he Georgia Supreme Court held in February 2014 that a trial court erred in denying the filing of a prisoner’s petition for mandamus seeking access to a law library.
After being sentenced to life plus a term of years, ...
