Arizona Supreme Court: State of Arizona v. Christopher Michael Montoya Case No. CR-22-0106-AP Filed August 15, 2024 ISSUES: NOTE: This is an automatic appeal because it is a capital case. Whether the prosecutor committed errors that denied Montoya due process, a fair trial, and freedom from arbitrary punishment. Whether the prosecutor improperly argued an unproven […]
Arizona Supreme Court: State of Arizona v. Bennet Laquan Williams Case No. CR-23-0068-PR, Filed August 6, 2024 ISSUES: 1. Whether a plea agreement becomes void when a prior conviction used as a sentence enhancement is expunged due to a change in law. 2. Whether the State can unilaterally allege a different prior conviction to enhance
Arizona Supreme Court: State of Arizona v. Kevin Dunbar Case No. CR-23-0029-PR Filed June 18, 2024 ISSUES: Whether the denial of the right to self-representation at sentencing is subject to structural error or harmless error review. How to analyze a defendant’s untimely request for self-representation at sentencing. DECISIONS: The Arizona Supreme Court held that erroneous
Arizona Supreme Court: State v. Perez-Gutierrez Case No. CR-23-0137-PR Filed May 31, 2024 ISSUES: Whether a violation of A.R.S. § 13-711(A), which requires courts to explain certain sentencing decisions on the record, is subject to fundamental-error review, structural-error review, or a limited-remand practice. The appropriate remedy for a violation of § 13-711(A) when a defendant
State of Arizona v. Manuel David Perez-Gutierrez Read Post »
Arizona Supreme Court: State v. Anderson Case N0. CR-23-0008-PR Filed May 2, 2024 ISSUES: Whether Anderson’s ineffective assistance of counsel (IAC) claim is untimely Whether Anderson’s IAC claim is precluded Whether Anderson presents a colorable IAC claim DECISION: Anderson’s IAC claim is not untimely due to the pervasive confusion about parole availability in Arizona at