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Court gives 'Crazy Joe' 11th-hour reprieve
“Crazy Joe” Spaziano receives a last-minute stay of execution on his 50th birthday September 25, 1995. In 1975 police charged Joe Spaziano with the 1973 rape-torture slaying of 18-year-old hospital clerk Laura Lynn Harberts. Jurors found Spaziano…
Rally Protests Suspensions
A newspaper article written by Steve Geigerich that discusses protests held by Mary Washington College students over marijuana-use suspensions.
The Coup d'Etat Part IV
The fourth part of a satiracal column about a student protest articulated as if it were a revolution. This part depicts President Woodard's realization of the revolution's severity and his plan on combating it.
Last-minute strategy aims for Bundy stay
Mello argues that there is a good case for a potential stay of execution for Bundy.
Current Events
The rivalry between two newspapers over the guilt or innocence of Joey Spaziano leads to a new trail, of a case that's over twenty years old. In the end, Justice won over newspaper sales.
Kaczynski, in brief, says he wants trial
Convicted Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski files a handwritten appeal asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court to let him withdraw his 1998 guilty pleas, claiming they were coerced by the threat of a mental-defense strategy and denial of his right to represent…
A man may die under cover of secrecy
Joe Spaziano's execution is still likely to occur even though the only witness recanted his testimony. Most of the evidence that Governor Lawton Chiles has to condemn Spaziano has not been made publicly available or brought to court.
Closing the door on innocence
News article covering Mello's continued defense of Joseph Spaziano 23 days before his execution is carried out.
Parent-child privilege has little precedent
No state recognize the child/parent privilege when it comes to testifying in court cases. Many argue they should appeal to the Supreme Court.
Justice chided for overturning 5 high-profile homicide cases
In 1995, five homicide convictions are overturned by the Vermont Supreme Court. Michael Mello praises justices for overturning murder convictions.
Grand Jury Sees Action
In recent months, the court system in the state of Vermont has seen a revival of the Grand jury. While the practice of calling for a Grand jury is legitimate, some question whether affording the prosecution such a powerful tool to indict does not…
Cantini Case Highlights Board Action
Lawyer Gerald Cantini has been sued and gone to court many times because of his divorce, malpractice suits, and in multiple investigations. He has had multiple lawyers defending him during his trials but they tend to quit due to his difficult nature.
Gridlock on Death Row
This Newsweek article uses the failed death row appeal of Warren McClesky by the Supreme Court to bring up complicated issues surrounding capital punishment. Writers argue that the Supreme Court and most in the legal system admit there is racial bias…
Verdict shocks Cops, Lawyers
A recent verdict has acquitted four Los Angeles police officers for using excessive force on a black motorist. This verdict has drawn a mixed reaction from local police and attorneys.
The Feds' Case Against Kaczynski
The defense attorneys for Theodore John Kaczynski, the accused Unabomber, will attempt to argue that their client suffered from "a mental defect" and cannot be held responsible for his crimes.
Gov. Chiles Halts Execution After Witness Recants
Witness claims Florida police planted story in his head using hypnosis.
Working for Free: Lawyers finding death row work demanding
The article describes how when looking to defend a inmate on death row a lawyer could be working around 18 hours a day for three to four weeks. It also alludes to how important it is that these lawyers continue to do this work as 50% of death row…
Florida kills Viet Nam vet in electric chair
David Funchess was the first U.S. Vietnam Vet to be executed by a state.
The two Crazy Joes
As two newspapers, the Herald and the Sentinel, cover the same story of Joseph "Crazy Joe" Spaziano, they report two completely different stories. David Barstow evaluates why these two reliable newspapers published two different views of the case, as…