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Articles by Janet Hoeffel

Long Waits for Trial in Virgin Islands Highlight Need for New Law - Or New Constitution

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By Alexa Askari, Janet Hoeffel, Douglas Keith, Rex Bossert
| State Court Report
Individuals in the U.S. Virgin Islands facing criminal charges often wait years for their case to come before a jury. This is due to many factors, including difficulty selecting an unbiased jury, the small number of public defenders in the territory, and the process by which cases are passed around should a public defender be unable to take a case. Yet the Virgin Islands Supreme Court has never found a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of a speedy trial.
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Louisiana Supreme Court Makes It Harder to Reduce Unjust Sentences

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By Michael Milov-Cordoba, Alicia Bannon, Gabriella Sanchez, Janet Hoeffel
| State Court Report
In September, the Louisiana Supreme Court struck down a law intended to make it easier for prosecutors to seek relief for individuals serving unduly harsh sentences. The 2021 was proposed by a local district attorney’s office and passed unanimously by the state senate and house and signed into law by the governor.
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The Latest Legal Challenge to Reform-Minded Prosecutors

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By Oded Oren, Alexa Askari, Janet Hoeffel, Douglas Keith
| State Court Report
This fall, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether state lawmakers can impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who is accused of “misbehavior in office” for pursuing various criminal justice reform policies.
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States and Feds Diverge on Fair Sentencing Practices

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By Kathrina Szymborski Wolfkot, Oded Oren, Alexa Askari, Janet Hoeffel
| State Court Report
A version of this article was originally published in State Court Report on June 7, 2023. This version is updated to include developments in the U.S. Supreme Court. Of all the unjust features of our criminal legal system, one is particularly shocking: you can serve prison time for charges of which you were acquitted. This is exactly what happened to 17-year-old Daytona McClinton.
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