The Evolution of WCL’s Only Criminal Law Publication: Introducing the Criminal Law Practitioner

On behalf of the 2013-2014 Executive Board, we are pleased to formally announce our publication’s transition from the Criminal Law Brief to the Criminal Law Practitioner.  Building on the strong foundation from our many publications as the Criminal Law Brief, which identified key issues and recent developments in the criminal law field, our journal now seeks to take our articles one step further by discussing the practical application of prevalent and controversial issues in criminal law.  This is something many other criminal law journals and publications have yet to delve into and we are very excited to initiate what we hope will be an enduring trend.  To reflect the new mission of our publication, we implemented the name change from the Criminal Law Brief to the Criminal Law Practitioner.

Corruption in the Courtroom

Judges play an important role in the criminal justice system.  They are the only party in the system that must remain completely neutral.  Because judges remain neutral, we entrust them with various decisions that can affect the outcome of a case, such as ruling on motions relating to the admissibility of evidence and determining whether there is sufficient probable cause for warrants.  To ensure these issues are decided in the fairest manner, it is crucial that judges do not have a stake in the litigation presented before them. 

Juries: The Community Conscience in America

There it is.  “Breaking News: Verdict reached!” scrolls along the bottom portion of your television screen or appears as a notification on your newest smart phone.  We have all seen it.  We have all waited in nervous anticipation for it.  We flick to the nearest news channel, turn up the volume, and crowd around the screen as the criminal trial enters the final stretch.  Those final words are then composedly uttered, “We the jury find the defendant…”

A Refreshing Reminder of Why Jury Duty Matters: A Review of Andrew Guthrie Ferguson's Book on Jury Duty

Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, Why Jury Duty Matters: A Citizen’s Guide to Constitutional Action

Google “jury duty” and you will quickly find websites dedicated to teaching you ways to avoid it.  Many websites compare jury duty to getting a cavity filled at the dentist, having to wait in the never-ending line at the Department of Motor Vehicles, or even wrestling an alligator.  In Why Jury Duty Matters, author Andrew Guthrie Ferguson provides an inspiring and educational analysis of the importance of serving as a juror in the United States court system, ultimately reminding us of our civic duty in the context of our constitutional history.