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Criminal Practice
Criminal Practice Law360 provides timely news and analysis on criminal law and enforcement across U.S. jurisdictions. Coverage includes major prosecutions, sentencing trends, constitutional challenges, legislative developments, and key rulings impacting prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the courts.
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Latest News in Criminal Practice
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July 14, 2025
Judge Probes Bid To Block Wash. Clergy Abuse Reporter Law
A Washington federal judge appeared receptive Monday to Catholic officials' argument that a new state law requiring priests to report suspected child abuse amounts to a free exercise violation, while also expressing uncertainty about how far the court can go in blocking the statute's enactment.
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July 14, 2025
Ill. Court Orders Resentencing Due To Trial Judge's Remarks
A split Illinois state appeals court has ruled that a Chicago man convicted of murder should be resentenced, saying comments made by a trial judge from the bench indicated the lower court inappropriately doubled up on aggravating factors when handing down its sentence.
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July 14, 2025
Split 2nd Circ. Denies Rehearing In Fox Threats Case
A split Second Circuit on Monday declined to grant an en banc rehearing to a man convicted of sending threatening messages to two Fox News hosts and two members of Congress, saying the 11-member jury that found him guilty did not violate his constitutional rights.
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July 14, 2025
Conservative Justice Reform Group Expands With Ga. Director
A conservative-leaning organization that focuses on criminal justice reform has announced it will be expanding into Georgia with the hiring of a former lobbyist for a national prosecutor's association as its new state director.
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July 14, 2025
Mass. High Court Reverses Gun Conviction Over Birth Date
A man sentenced to 18 months in prison for carrying a firearm and ammunition without a license had his convictions reversed by Massachusetts' highest court because the state failed to adequately prove its records search targeted the right person.

Areas of Coverage
- Influential appellate decisions in state supreme and federal circuit courts—especially those guiding trial strategy and evidentiary standards
- Developments in intermediate state appellate courts with potential to shape precedent.
- Federal, state, and local legislation or regulation impacting courts, prosecutors, and defenders.
- Developments from state attorneys general, including prosecutions, policy shifts, and personnel moves
- Criminal justice reform efforts and the impact on state and local prosecutions.
- Unique criminal cases at the trial court level, in state or federal court
- Civil appellate opinions affecting the criminal bar, such as rulings on qualified immunity.
- Innovations in criminal law education and defense training at law schools.
- Profiles of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and others impacting criminal law.
- Studies or reports on the work of state and local prosecutors or public defenders.
- AGENCIES
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- DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility
- State bar associations and judicial conduct bodies
- POLICY & REGULATION
- Rules of Criminal Procedure in state and local courts
- Professional conduct standards for criminal attorneysDOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility
- State legislative initiatives in criminal prosecutions and defense
- ENFORCEMENT
- Misconduct investigations and disciplinary actions involving prosecutors and defenders
- PROFILES
- Profiles of individual prosecutors, public defenders and private criminal defense attorneys
- Profiles of firms and public offices
Readership
- State and local prosecutors
- State and local public defenders
- Criminal defense attorneys in private practice
- Criminal justice reform advocates
- Law enforcement professionals
- Appellate specialists
- Legal academics and students
- Attorneys specializing in appeals of criminal cases
- Judges and court staff in the criminal courts
- Staff in state attorney generals offices
- Staff at the DOJ, working in the criminal division