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Only Minimal Impact on Commerce Needed for Attempted Bombing

Description: This report discusses the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in the United States v. Suarez case, that a minimal impact on commerce is sufficient to satisfy the jurisdictional requirement of the federal weapons of mass destruction statute. This decision seems to reflect a growing willingness of federal appellate courts to read broadly Congress's Commerce Clause powers.
Date: July 26, 2018
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

When Can You Be Convicted of a Crime That Is Not a Crime?

Description: This report discusses the case United States v. Melgar-Cabrera. A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (Tenth Circuit) recently upheld the murder conviction of the defendant who the court conceded had been "convicted of a crime that is not a crime."
Date: June 29, 2018
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Murderous Schemes are not Violent Crimes?

Description: This report discusses the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit's decision in the case of "U.S. v. McCollum" which stated that conspiracy to murder was not a violent crime for federal sentencing purposes and discusses the background of the case and the prior case law which led to the decision.
Date: April 17, 2018
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Russians Indicted for Online Election Trolling

Description: This report discusses the indictment of three Russian companies and 13 Russian national by the Department of Justice for interference in the 2016 presidential election. The charges brought for each one are detailed along with the sentencing guidelines for the crimes.
Date: February 21, 2018
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Victim Restitution: Attorney's Fees for Internal Investigations?

Description: This report discusses of whether a federal statute which requires victim reimbursement for "other expenses incurred during participation in the investigation or prosecution of the [victimizing] offense" cover "costs that were neither required nor requested by the government, including costs incurred for the victim's own purposes and unprompted by any official action? An upcoming Supreme Court case ("Lagos v. United States") is set to consider this question.
Date: February 6, 2018
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Amateur Strip-Club Arrests: Probable Cause and Qualified Immunity

Description: This report discusses the Supreme Court case "District of Columbia v. Wesby" which addressed the question of what constituted probable cause for arrest and police officers qualified immunity from personal lawsuits against them for actions during the course of their duties.
Date: January 24, 2018
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Money Laundering: An Overview of 18 U.S.C. §1956 and Related Federal Criminal Law

Description: This report provides an overview of the elements of federal criminal money laundering statutes and the sanctions imposed for their violation. It includes an extensive overview and analysis of elements as well as legal attributes and consequences of violating various federal criminal statues related to money laundering, most specifically 18 U.S.C. § 1956, 1957, and 1952. The end of the report provides text of the statutes discussed, citations of state money laundering and money transmission sta… more
Date: November 30, 2017
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Killing Endangered Species: What's Reasonable Self-Defense?

Description: This report discusses the case of "United States v. Wallen" in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; it concerns a man who killed a grizzly bear cub in violation of the Endangered Species Act and claimed self-defense. It outlines the court ruling that the man enjoys a complete defense if he "actually, even if unreasonably, believe[s] his actions were necessary to protect himself or others" and discusses the implications of the decision.
Date: November 29, 2017
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Fibbing to Get a Lawyer: Circuits Split on Punishment

Description: This report discusses differing views held by U.S. appellate courts regarding whether lying about one's assets to pre-trial service personnel in order to get a court-appointed lawyer can be used as a justification to increase the sentence of the offender.
Date: November 27, 2017
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

No-Knock: Unannounced Forcible Entry Historically, In the States and in the Federal District of Columbia, Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970, and Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act f 1970

Description: This report discusses the issue of unannounced forcible entry by police and laws regulating the practice both historically and in the D.C. Court Reform and Criminal Procedure Act of 1970 and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.
Date: December 16, 1970
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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SORNA: A Legal Analysis of 18 U.S.C. §2250 (Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

Description: This report describes the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) including various elements of the legislation and Constitutional considerations, with requirements and repercussions of an individual's failure to comply with SORNA.
Date: January 17, 2017
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Stealing Trade Secrets and Economic Espionage: An Overview of the Economic Espionage Act

Description: This report discusses the theft of trade secrets, which is considered a federal crime when the information relates to a product in interstate or foreign commerce. Offenders face lengthy prison terms as well as heavy fines, and they must pay restitution.
Date: August 19, 2016
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Terrorist Material Support: An Overview of 18 U.S.C. §2339A and §2339B

Description: This report discusses the two federal material support statutes that have been at the heart of the Justice Department's terrorist prosecution efforts. One provision outlaws providing material support for the commission of certain designated offenses that might be committed by terrorists (18 U.S.C. 2339A); the other outlaws providing material support to certain designated terrorist organizations (18 U.S.C. 2339B). They share a common definition of the term "material support," some aspects of whi… more
Date: December 8, 2016
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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