NACDL

Legislative Victories

Texas passed the Michael Morton Act, SB1611. On May 16, Governor Rick Perry signed the Michael Morton Act into law.  See bill analysis here.  The act requires prosecutors to hand over all exculpatory evidence to the defense.

Louisiana passed HB371, An Act Relative to Discovery Reform.  See engrossed bill here 

Brady v. Maryland 

The Supreme Court's holding in Brady v. Maryland requires the prosecutor to disclose to the defense all information favorable to the accused, pertaining to either the determination of guilt or imposition of sentencing. As many commentators have observed, the rule of Brady is simply not the rule in our courts. The resulting injustice - as evidenced by persistent claims and findings of the suppression of favorable information and actual wrongful convictions  - calls for real change. NACDL supports codification of the prosecution’s obligation to provide discovery to the defense of all information favorable to the accused. 

INTERVIEW WITH STEVENS’ COUNSEL

NACDL held a live webcast interview with the late Senator Ted Stevens’ attorney Robert M. Cary, of Williams & Connolly LLP, who discussed the ramifications of the case and the investigation, and the future of federal discovery reform.