News Roundup

Published for NC Criminal Law on April 30, 2010.

I've been busy with New Prosecutors' School this week. Working on the course, which we co-sponsor with the Conference of District Attorneys, is one of the best parts of my job. I'm always inspired by the enthusiasm, dedication, and professionalism of the assistant district attorneys who attend the school. Even though my full attention has been occupied by new prosecutors, the world of criminal law hasn't stood still. A few news items that may be of interest: 1. I posted here about the possible criminal implications of Gizmodo's purchase of a prototype of Apple's next-generation iPhone. Since then, a criminal investigation has, in fact, begun. The basics are in this New York Times story. Some interesting legal issues surrounding the authorities' seizure of computers belonging to one of Gizmodo's editors are discussed in this post on the Volokh Conspiracy. 2. As most readers of this blog are probably already aware, Arizona has enacted a new law targeting illegal immigration. A New York Times story about the measure is here. Among other things, it requires officers to investigate when they have reason to suspect that an individual is in the United States illegally. The law has been enormously controversial, with some suggesting that it will deepen racial divides and others -- like this columnist -- arguing that immigration is a federal matter that should not be addressed by the states. Still others, like George Will, have argued that the law is a reasonable and lawful response to the federal government's failure to [...]