High court hears argument on post‑conviction testing of knife handles in Cadet case The Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments over Pierre Paul Cadet’s petition under Chapter 278A seeking post‑conviction forensic testing of handler swabs and other items; defense counsel said such testing could corroborate a self‑defense claim, while the Commonwealth urged denial as testing was available and a strategic choice at trial.

The Supreme Judicial Court is debating whether new forensic testing could exonerate Pierre Paul Cadet by potentially proving he acted in self-defense during a fatal confrontation.

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#MA #PostConvictionRelief #ForensicScience #CriminalJustice #CitizenPortal

Tennessee Judge Keeps Counsel, Takes Time to Rule on 15+ Witnesses in Jimmy Reeder Post‑Conviction Hearing At a hearing on Jimmy (Samuel) Reeder’s third amended post‑conviction relief petition, the court denied a recusal request and declined to relieve appointed counsel; the judge said he will review transcripts and rule on whether subpoenas for 15–18 witnesses are relevant to the PCR grounds and will set a later hearing date.

A Tennessee judge is set to decide on subpoenas for over a dozen witnesses in a pivotal post-conviction relief case that could change everything for Jimmy Reeder.

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#TN #CitizenPortal #LegalReform #JudicialTransparency #PostConvictionRelief #TennesseeCourts

Appellate Court Hears Challenge to Post‑Conviction Relief Tied to Twitter Evidence in Jabril Lindsey Case At oral argument, defense counsel said Twitter posts the state used to show motive were older and lacked clear links to the victim; state attorneys defended trial counsel’s strategy of attacking authorship and authentication. The court took the appeal under advisement.

A Tennessee appellate court is questioning the validity of Twitter evidence used in a murder case, revealing that key posts may not even connect to the victim at all.

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#TN #CitizenPortal #TennesseeJudiciary #CriminalJustice #SocialMediaEvidence #PostConvictionRelief

Tennessee appellate panel hears argument over whether post-conviction relief covers diversion revocations The court heard competing arguments over whether revocation of judicial diversion can be collaterally attacked under the Post-Conviction Relief Act in a case where diversion was revoked after the defendant picked up new arrests; petitioner urged application of the Act, the State urged affirmance of dismissal under existing precedent.

A Tennessee appellate panel is wrestling with a pivotal question: Can defendants challenge the revocation of judicial diversion through the Post-Conviction Relief Act?

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#TN #JudicialDiversion #CitizenPortal #LegalPrecedent #PostConvictionRelief #TennesseeCourts

Supreme Court says Payne v. Tennessee provides clearly established due-process rule for AEDPA claims in 7-2 per curiam decision In Andrew v. White, the Supreme Court held 7–2 that the rule in Payne v. Tennessee — that unduly prejudicial evidence can render a trial fundamentally unfair — qualifies as "clearly established" federal law under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA), reopening a path to habeas relief for some defendants.

The Supreme Court's landmark ruling now allows defendants to challenge their convictions based on the admission of unduly prejudicial evidence, potentially reshaping postconviction litigation.

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#US #CitizenPortal #DueProcess #PostconvictionRelief #SupremeCourt

Massachusetts implements postconviction relief process under Survivors Justice Act Incarcerated individuals can now petition for sentence reductions under the new act.

Massachusetts has just opened the door for incarcerated individuals to seek sentence reductions under the groundbreaking Survivors Justice Act!

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#MA #CitizenPortal #CriminalJusticeReform #PostconvictionRelief #SecondChances

Court discredits Duncan's testimony in collateral attack case Court finds Duncan's testimony self-serving despite claiming he filed timely post-conviction relief.

In a pivotal court session, the credibility of James David Duncan's testimony is under intense scrutiny, raising questions about his legal future and the complexities of post-conviction relief.

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#TN #LegalCredibility #JudicialSystem #PostConvictionRelief #CitizenPortal