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Recent Supreme Court Decisions in Criminal Law

The core criminal rights that form the foundation of our criminal justice system are established by provisions of the United States Constitution and its amendments. Often, state courts and federal district courts reach conflicting conclusions about exactly how far these Constitutional protections extend. Once the Supreme Court has ruled, however, all jurisdictions are required to follow that ruling with regard to the application of U.S. Constitutional provisions.

Because the basic criminal rights like the right to an attorney, the right against self incrimination, the right to confront witnesses against you, and the right to a trial by jury are founded in amendments to the Constitution, the United States Supreme Court is frequently called upon to consider criminal cases. Some of the most significant criminal justice rulings of 2007 are reviewed and explained below.

• U.S. Supreme Court Extends Fourth Amendment Protection to Vehicle Passengers
• Supreme Court Uses Video to Assess Reasonableness of Police Actions in High Speed Chase
• U.S. Supreme Holds That Juries Must Review Both Aggravating and Mitigating Nature of Facts in Death Penalty Cases
• Supreme Court Holds "Attempt" Sufficient in Indictment of Alien Attempting to Re-Enter the United States
• US Supreme Court Clarifies Deportation Law
• Recent Developments in a Defendant's 6th Amendment Right to Trial by Jury