Law in 10

Earlier this month, the California Supreme Court heard arguments in a case regarding whether Sexually Violent Predators can be civilly committed in California for an indefinite period of time. A ruling by the state high court will determine the constitutionality of Proposition 83, better known as Jessica’s Law, passed by state voters in 2006.

This episode of Law in 10 features the attorney who argued the state’s case on behalf of civil commitment in “People v. McKee,” Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinreb, an adjunct professor at California Western

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 9:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

Nearly 15 years after the massacre of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, one of the campaign’s alleged chief architects is on trial in The Hague. Radovan Karadzic, leader of the Serb Republic, faces 11 war crimes charges stemming from the Bosnian War of the early and mid 1990s. The trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia began last week but quickly stalled when Karadzic refused to enter the courtroom.

This episode of Law in 10 features Associate Dean William Aceves, a renowned expert on issues related to human rights and international law, discussing the Karadzic case and the purpose and success of international tribunals in holding war criminals accountable.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [10:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

Last week, the Senate Finance Committee voted in favor of a health care reform package, a key vote in the push to overhaul the nation’s health care system. While the bill’s passage was a major victory, considering that the committee killed a similar reform effort 15 years ago, this legislation is not out of the woods by any means.

In this episode of Law in 10, Professor Susan Channick discusses the politics of health care reform and how it will affect consumers. Channick serves as Co-Director of the joint degree Master’s in Health Law program sponsored by California Western and UCSD.

Professor Channick and Professor Ed Dauer will discuss “The Fundamentals of Health Care Reform” on Tuesday, October 27 at 12:15 in the California Western Moot Court room. Click here for more information.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [10:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

Advances in DNA testing have revolutionized the criminal justice system, exonerating the wrongly convicted and identifying suspects in cases stalled for years due to insufficient evidence.

Of course, those revelations only happen if the DNA is actually tested. Last year, police and sheriff officials in Los Angeles acknowledged a backlog of nearly 8,000 untested evidence kits collected from rape and sexual assault victims. While the LAPD has cut that number roughly in half, many thousands of kits remain untested, leaving victims in limbo and perpetrators on the street.

In this episode of Law in 10, Professor Jan Stiglitz discusses what this situation says about law enforcement resources and priorities. Stiglitz serves as Co-Director of the California Innocence Project, located at California Western.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [9:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

Since the launch of Operation Gatekeeper in 1994, the number of people caught illegally entering the United States from Mexico has dropped by 50%.  Increased enforcement at the western end of the border pushed determined border crossers east into the desert. Between 300 and 500 men and women die each year while making this dangerous crossing; lured by the promise of a steady paycheck in the U.S. and the promise of reunification with family members.

The American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Countries recently released a report calling on the world community to recognize border crossing deaths as an international humanitarian crisis, and shift border enforcement to search and rescue.

Host Pam Hardy speaks with ACLU board member and California Western Associate Dean for Academics William Aceves about the ACLU report and its recommendations to reduce the number of deaths at the border.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [10:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the California Innocence Project, located at California Western School of Law. In that time, thousands of inmates claiming innocence and their families have contacted the project seeking assistance. Innocence Project staff and students spend many more thousands of hours investigating those claims, taking on cases where innocence is clear and provable.

Five wrongfully convicted men have been exonerated by the project over the last 10 years, serving more than 75 years behind bars between them. An additional three men were exonerated by the project just in the last three months, and await release.

Host Pam Hardy speaks with project director Justin Brooks about the history, the success, and the future of the California Innocence Project.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [10:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

Trial jurors are regularly instructed not to research or discuss cases on their own.  But what about a Facebook status update or quick trip to the crime scene via Google Earth? The attorney representing a client in a high-profile case will soon ask jurors to sign an affidavit swearing that they will not use personal electronic and media devices to communicate or research any aspect of the case. The trial involves a radio station sued for negligence by the family of a woman who died after an on-air stunt. The “Hold Your Wee for a Wii” competition required contestants to drink large amounts of water without using the restroom, in the hopes of winning a prize. The woman later died of water intoxication.

This episode of Law in 10 focuses on how the internet is changing jury service and features Mario Conte, a distinguished practitioner at California Western and the former President of San Diego Federal Defenders.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [10:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

Communities across the country, including San Diego, continue to search for ways to assist those without access to housing, medical care, or legal assistance.  Oftentimes these issues go hand in hand, requiring a comprehensive, collaborative approach to providing services.

In Downtown San Diego, California Western School of Law partners with UC San Diego, charitable and social service organizations, law students, and volunteers to provide a unique medical-legal pro bono program housed at First Lutheran Church, just down the street from the law school.

This archive episode of Law in 10 features host Pam Hardy in conversation with Professor Linda Morton, faculty liaison for the Community Law Project.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [ 10:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

It was an event that shocked the American conscience, bruised and weary though it was from the horror and destruction of the Vietnam War. In 1968, a  platoon of U.S. Army soldiers led by Lt. William Calley opened fire on the unarmed citizens of the village of My Lai, killing well over 500 men, women, and children. The only officer  convicted for his role in the massacre, Lt. Calley was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison, although he served only  a few months in the stockade and three years under house arrest, thanks to the intervention of President Richard Nixon.

The Calley trial is credited with helping accelerate the American withdrawal from Vietnam, but perhaps more importantly; it opened a window onto the process of military justice and the important work of military lawyers. Lt. Calley recently spoke for the very first time about the events of 1968, expressing his remorse for those killed, their families, and the American soldiers he led that day.

Host Pam Hardy looks back at the lessons of My Lai with California Western Professor Michal Belknap, author of “The Vietnam War on Trial: the My Lai Massacre and the Court-Martial of Lieutenant Calley.”

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [10:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player

Over the past five years, more than 1,500 local high school students have participated in California Western’s Street Law San Diego program, which teaches young people about the aspects of law that affect them as they transition from children to adults. The 14-week program highlights concepts such as the First Amendment, criminal procedure, and juvenile justice; and includes second and third-year law students as mentors and instructors.

Host Pam Hardy discusses the program with Alex Simpson, a California Western graduate, Litigation Coordinator for the California Innocence Project, and Director of Street Law San Diego.

Listen Now:

 Standard Podcasts [9:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player