DP Case Sent Back Over IQ Dispute: Jeff Arnold from the Arkansas Times Record reports that the Arkansas Supreme Court has ordered additional review of evidence that a convicted murderer was competent to stand trial in 2002. Ricky Newman confessed to the murder of Marie Cholette and was sentenced to death. He initially waived his right to appeal saying that he wanted to be executed. He later claimed that he had been mentally incompetent. The doctor who had twice found him competent for trial and sentencing later reported that in his second review of Newman, he administered the wrong IQ test and miscalculated the results. The defense also claims that the prosecution withheld evidence showing that Newman was not guilty.
AG Tries to Protect Sex Offender Restrictions: The Associated Press reports that Attorney General Jack Conway is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend a Kentucky high court ruling which lifted the residency restrictions on convicted sex offenders. The state court 's October 1st ruling announced that the restrictions incorporated in the Kentucky sex offender law were unconstitutionally applied to defendants convicted prior to the law's enactment. The law prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, child care facilities and playgrounds. The press release from Kentucky's Office of Attorney General provides a link to the Application to Stay.
NY Governor Wants to Close Repeat Offender Loophole: Robert Baker of The Post Standard reports that Governor David Patterson is pushing the New York Legislature to close a loophole which automatically gives repeat offenders credit for the time served for their earlier crime. As a result, serious repeat offenders receiving these credits become eligible for parole earlier. They might serve less time than those convicted of a lesser offense. To remove the windfall, the Governor proposes a requirement that all serious felons and repeat child sex offenders serve their new sentences consecutively to any time left remaining on the new sentence.
AG Tries to Protect Sex Offender Restrictions: The Associated Press reports that Attorney General Jack Conway is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend a Kentucky high court ruling which lifted the residency restrictions on convicted sex offenders. The state court 's October 1st ruling announced that the restrictions incorporated in the Kentucky sex offender law were unconstitutionally applied to defendants convicted prior to the law's enactment. The law prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, child care facilities and playgrounds. The press release from Kentucky's Office of Attorney General provides a link to the Application to Stay.
NY Governor Wants to Close Repeat Offender Loophole: Robert Baker of The Post Standard reports that Governor David Patterson is pushing the New York Legislature to close a loophole which automatically gives repeat offenders credit for the time served for their earlier crime. As a result, serious repeat offenders receiving these credits become eligible for parole earlier. They might serve less time than those convicted of a lesser offense. To remove the windfall, the Governor proposes a requirement that all serious felons and repeat child sex offenders serve their new sentences consecutively to any time left remaining on the new sentence.
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