No coattails; the Rodney King tape hasn't made it easier to sue for police brutality
Article Abstract:
The National Law Journal surveyed 114 reported verdicts rendered by Southern California juries after the Rodney King verdict to gauge the effect of that incident on the fate of police brutality cases in California courts. The survey found that the police won in two-thirds of these cases, the same ratio as before the King incident. Of the 43 decisions reviewed which have been rendered since the verdict, policemen were held not liable in 31 cases. Winning plaintiffs did obtain higher awards after the King incident, however.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1993
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Lawmaking by amateurs: initiatives drafted by kitchen-table legislators can have perverse results
Article Abstract:
The initiative process by which citizens in many states can circumvent the legislature to promulgate laws has flaws and critics, though some of those are ingenuous. Initiatives have in recent years become more popular in the states that allow them, but increasing professionalism in these campaigns has not prevented the flaws that can neutralize or reverse their intent. Critics of initiatives, though, may have their own agenda, and the process requires early cementing of the language before public comment is possible.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1995
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Olympian in temperament and sport; judge took flak for Stacey Koon's light sentence, but he prevailed on appeal, as usual
Article Abstract:
Judge John G. Davies is a federal district judge who received heavy criticism for former police officer Stacey Koon's light sentence in the Rodney King beating case. His 30-month sentence of Koon was lower than the federal guidelines. The US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit wanted him to impose much more prison time, but the US Supreme Court sided with Davies and with judicial discretion. Davies's overall reversal rate is lower than average.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1996
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