Apprendi v. New Jersey

Holding that “[o]ther than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt”

Crawford v. Washington

Holding that the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause bars "admission of testimonial statements of a witness who did not appear at trial unless he was unavailable to testify, and the defendant had had a prior opportunity for cross-examination"

Descamps v. United States

Holding that courts "may look only to the statutory definitions—i.e ., the elements—of a defendant’s prior offenses"

Shepard v. U.S.

Holding that when conducting certain inquires related to prior convictions courts are limited to certain judicial record evidence-charging instruments, terms of a plea agreement, or "transcript of colloquy between judge and defendant in which the factual basis for the plea was confirmed by the defendant, or to some comparable judicial record"

Ohio v. Roberts

Holding that the question of good-faith effort is a question of reasonableness, and a prosecutor is not required to do a futile act

Giles v. California

Holding that exception applies "only when the defendant engaged in conduct designed to prevent the witness from testifying"

People v. Brown

Finding accomplice's hearsay statement properly admitted as declaration against interest; therefore corroboration was not required and court need not instruct that statement had to be viewed with caution

Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court

Explaining the "rule requiring a court exercising inferior jurisdiction to follow the decisions of a court exercising a higher jurisdiction"

People v. Zapien

Holding the trial court " ' "ruling or decision, itself correct in law, will not be disturbed on appeal merely because given for a wrong reason" ' "

People v. Friend

Finding no prejudice from brief reference to prior jail time

Section 924 - Penalties

Holding that conviction for eluding police, under Maine statute which provides that "[w]hoever, after being requested or signaled to stop, attempts to elude a law enforcement officer by driving a vehicle at a reckless rate of speed which results in a high-speed chase between the operator's vehicle and any law enforcement vehicle using a blue light and siren is guilty" of a felony-level crime, involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)

Rule 8.1115 - Citation of opinions

Rule 8.500 - Petition for review