Arizona Sheriff Stripped of Policing Powers: Guardian News writer Daniel Nasaw reports on a two-year old agreement between the Department of Homeland Security and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been canceled due to claims of abuse. In what critics call a political move, the White House has decided to strip the Sheriff of his federal authority to make immigration arrests. Arpaio's aggressive tactics include the jailing of illegal immigrants in tent cities surrounded by barbed wire, the reduction of their meal costs to 20 cents per day, and chain gangs for women inmates. Responding to the White House decision Arpaio told that press that he will personally drive illegals caught on the streets to the border if federal officers refused to take them into custody. More than 60 law enforcement agencies across the country have signed onto the federal program allowing local officers to be deputized to enforce immigration law. Critics claim that it wastes police resources needed to combat local crime and promotes the racial profiling of Hispanics.
Update-DNA Advancements Brings Hope to Rape Victim: CNN writer Mayra Cuevas-Nazario reports that a suspect has been apprehended in the 19-year-old rape, abduction, and attempted murder of an 8-year-old girl. The details of this case were reported in an earlier News Scan. DNA, and other forensic evidence, led authorities to Dennis Earl Bradford. Bradford was arrested on Tuesday morning in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bradford's DNA was in the FBI database because of a previous conviction in Arkansas. The victim Jennifer Schuett, who is now 27-years-old, said, "I hope that my case will remain as a reminder to all victims of violent crime to never give up hope ... With determination and by using your voice to speak out, you are capable of anything."
Supreme Court to Decide What Constitutes Effective Assistance of Counsel: Associated Press writer Jesse J. Holland reports that Jose Padilla, a Honduras-born immigrant, wants his guilty plea to drug charges thrown out because his defense lawyer gave him the bad advice. The Supreme Court is heard arguments today on whether defendants should expect their lawyers to advise them on all the possible consequences of a guilty plea. Padilla agreed to plead guilty to drug charges because his lawyer had incorrectly told him it would not affect his immigration status. When Padilla found out that he faced deportation, he tried to back out of the plea deal arguing that there had been a violation of his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance to counsel. The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that adequate counsel does not extend to matters that are outside the criminal case. Attorney Stephen Kinnaird says that is the constitutional duty of the attorney to inform his client about all consequences to a guilty plea because a lawyer's "duty is to inform the client of the legal risk." But Kentucky Assistant Attorney General WM Robert Long Jr says that a criminal attorney's constitutional duty does not extend to what may happen in the future. Justice Antonin Scalia questioned whether ruling in favor of Padilla would force courts to make exceptions for other consequences of a guilty plea. "We have to decide whether we're opening Pandora's box here," Scalia said.
Update-DNA Advancements Brings Hope to Rape Victim: CNN writer Mayra Cuevas-Nazario reports that a suspect has been apprehended in the 19-year-old rape, abduction, and attempted murder of an 8-year-old girl. The details of this case were reported in an earlier News Scan. DNA, and other forensic evidence, led authorities to Dennis Earl Bradford. Bradford was arrested on Tuesday morning in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bradford's DNA was in the FBI database because of a previous conviction in Arkansas. The victim Jennifer Schuett, who is now 27-years-old, said, "I hope that my case will remain as a reminder to all victims of violent crime to never give up hope ... With determination and by using your voice to speak out, you are capable of anything."
Supreme Court to Decide What Constitutes Effective Assistance of Counsel: Associated Press writer Jesse J. Holland reports that Jose Padilla, a Honduras-born immigrant, wants his guilty plea to drug charges thrown out because his defense lawyer gave him the bad advice. The Supreme Court is heard arguments today on whether defendants should expect their lawyers to advise them on all the possible consequences of a guilty plea. Padilla agreed to plead guilty to drug charges because his lawyer had incorrectly told him it would not affect his immigration status. When Padilla found out that he faced deportation, he tried to back out of the plea deal arguing that there had been a violation of his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance to counsel. The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that adequate counsel does not extend to matters that are outside the criminal case. Attorney Stephen Kinnaird says that is the constitutional duty of the attorney to inform his client about all consequences to a guilty plea because a lawyer's "duty is to inform the client of the legal risk." But Kentucky Assistant Attorney General WM Robert Long Jr says that a criminal attorney's constitutional duty does not extend to what may happen in the future. Justice Antonin Scalia questioned whether ruling in favor of Padilla would force courts to make exceptions for other consequences of a guilty plea. "We have to decide whether we're opening Pandora's box here," Scalia said.
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