Articles in this Issue

1. ABCs of Parental Alienation for Attorneys Who Defend False Allegations of Abuse

   Parental alienation is a pathological dynamic in which one parent strives to sever a child’s relationship with the other parent. For example, in a contentious custody battle, allegations of abuse can be initiated by a child at the behest of an alienating parent. Evidence of parental alienation is central to establishing a motive for the child’s allegations. How can defense counsel uncover parental alienation in a criminal case?

   Alan D. Blotcky and Ashish Joshi

2. Affiliate News

   What events are NACDL affiliates hosting this month? Find out here.

   Jessica Stepan

3. Book Review: Adelson’s The Pathology of Homicide by Dr. James R. Gill

   This month Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran reviews Adelson’s The Pathology of Homicide: A Guide for Forensic Pathologists and Homicide Investigators by Dr. James R. Gill.

   Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran

4. Defending Against the Criminalization of Voting

   People with past felony convictions have been prosecuted for registering to vote, casting ballots, or seeking to register while ineligible. It seems that the purpose of these prosecutions is to intimidate eligible voters with past felony convictions and keep them away from the ballot box. Democracy needs champions to defend people who acted in good faith but are being prosecuted for violating election laws. Voting rights restoration expert Blair Bowie offers tips that may help build a strong defense.

   Blair Bowie

5. Digital Age & Practice: Marketing Through Google Options

   Google dominates the search engine market. Jay Ruane explores the different Google marketing options available and explains how they can be used to market a criminal defense law firm.

   Jay Ruane

6. From the President: Dr. King Knew the Power of Redemption

   Issues that resonated in the 1950s – including the struggle for civil rights and racial justice – still occupy us today. One of the things that inspires us to continue fighting for justice is our confidence in the power of redemption.

   Michael P. Heiskell

7. How Sleep-Related Fatigue Impacts the Evidentiary Value of Statements and Confessions

   The impact of fatigue on defendants and their statements can be consequential. The most well-known examples come from false confession cases, where suspects (subsequently exonerated) were convicted based on fabricated statements provided under extreme fatigue and duress. Zlatan Križan and Richard A. Leo discuss sleep deprivation and its effects, and they analyze how sleep deprivation and fatigue can undermine the voluntariness and reliability of statements and confessions.

   Zlatan Križan and Richard A. Leo

8. Litigating Federal Reduction-in-Sentence Motions: The New Legal Landscape

   The United States Sentencing Commission updated U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13, the policy statement that governs federal reduction-in-sentence motions filed pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A). The legal hook for a reduction-in-sentence motion is identifying one or more “extraordinary and compelling” reasons that warrant relief. The authors provide tips for litigating § 3582(c)(1)(A) motions – both the extraordinary and compelling prong and the § 3553(a) prong.

   Erica Zunkel and Jaden Lessnick

9. NACDL News: NACDL Applauds U.S. Sentencing Commission Vote on Retroactive Reduction

   for Many Incarcerated Individuals

   NACDL News for November/December 2023

   Kate Holden, Jessie Diamond, and Jonathan Hutson

10. NACDL News: Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Bestows Champion of Justice Awards at Redemption Gala

    NACDL News for November/December 2023

    Kate Holden, Jessie Diamond, and Jonathan Hutson