Criminal Law Library Blog

January 26, 2026

Statement of ABA President Michelle A. Behnke RE: Shootings in Minneapolis

From ABA News and Insights , January 26, 2026.

CHICAGO, Jan. 26, 2026 — Our nation is hurting. People are mourning the loss of two lives at the hands of immigration agents in Minneapolis. There is confusion and fear as to the legalities at hand. Let’s be clear: This level of violence is not normal.The gravity of these incidents cannot be overstated. The American Bar Association emphasizes the need for a fair and open government investigation into the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both U.S. citizens. Only through a full and proper investigation will the facts of these incidents come to light.

Beyond the investigations, as the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA underscores the important constitutional rights that are at stake. The constitutional rights at issue must be protected. These include freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.

January 25, 2026

New Jersey Festival Orchestra Establishes the David Badertscher Conductor’s Chair In Honor of Maestro David Wroe

by David Badertscher

January 19, 2026

Westfield, NJ — The New Jersey Festival Orchestra (NJFO) proudly announces the establishment of The David Badertscher Conductor’s Chair in Honor of Maestro David Wroe, made possible through the extraordinary generosity of longtime supporter and Board member David Badertscher.

Mr. Badertscher’s transformational gift reflects his, and NJFO;s continued investment in the classical repertoire and affirms NJFO’s mission to bring great works of the past to life for contemporary audiences.

January 25, 2026

Brain Stimulation and Crime Prevention: Separating Science from Speculation

by David Badertscher

In recent years, advances in neuroscience have sparked interest in whether brain stimulation technologies might contribute to crime prevention. Techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have been studied for their effects on impulse control, aggression, and moral decision-making traits often associated with criminal behavior. While this research is scientifically intriguing, its relevance to criminal justice policy remains limited and contested.

The Neuroscience Rationale

Much of the interest in brain stimulation stems from findings linking antisocial or impulsive behavior to dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain responsible for executive control, emotional regulation, and judgment. Laboratory studies suggest that stimulating this area can temporarily enhance self control or reduce aggressive responses in controlled settings. These findings have led some commentators to speculate whether neurological interventions could someday complement traditional crime-prevention strategies.

January 23, 2026

Selected Case Summaries Published by Justia, January 23, 2026

by David Badertscher

During the week ending January 23, 2026 we have received listings of 12 Government and Administrative Law Summaries, 17 Constitutional Law summaries, 46 Criminal Law Summaries, 2 White Collar Law Summaries, 6 Intellectual Property Summaries, 1 Medical Malpractice Case Summary, and 3 U.S. Supreme Court Cases. We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated. To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:

Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending January 23,2026:

Criminal Law

January 18, 2026

Should the American Bar Association Be the Sole Accrediting Authority for U.S. Law Schools?

by David Badertscher

For more than a century, the American Bar Association has played a central role in shaping legal education in the United States through its authority to accredit law schools. ABA accreditation is widely regarded as the gold standard: graduates of ABA accredited schools are eligible to sit for the bar examination in all U.S. jurisdictions, and accreditation is often viewed as a proxy for institutional legitimacy and educational quality.

Yet in recent years, critics have questioned whether a single private professional organization should retain exclusive control over accreditation in a diverse, evolving legal education landscape. The debate raises fundamental questions about educational quality, access to the profession, innovation, and regulatory accountability.

The Case for Exclusive ABA Accreditation

January 17, 2026

Selected Case Summaries Published by Justia, Week Ending January 16, 2026

by David Badertscher

During the week ending January 16, 2026 we have received listings of 18 Government and Administrative Law Summaries, 30 Constitutional Law summaries, 55 Criminal Law Summaries, 3 White Collar Law Summaries, 4 Intellectual Property Summaries, 2 Copyright Law Summaries, 1 Medical Malpractice Case Summary, and 3 U.S. Supreme Court Cases. We plan is to continue posting opinion summaries, under corresponding areas of law, weekly whenever possible in order to keep blog readers updated. To gain access to these case summaries, click on the corresponding links below:

Opinion Summaries Posted for Week Ending January 16,2026:

Criminal Law

January 15, 2026

Barrett v. United States, USC

by David Badertscher

FROM THE ABA CRIMINAL JUSTICE UPDATE, January 15. 2026.

The U.S. Supreme Court Decision, Barrett v United States was argued on October 2, 2025 and decided on January 14, 2026.

SUMMARY;

January 14, 2026

An Introduction to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

by David Badertscher

A Congressional Budget Report, January 13, 2026.

Learn more about CBO’s work and its processes in a publication that is typically updated at the start of each Congress or a new session.

SUMMARY:

January 13, 2026

CBO: Demographic Outlook, 2026 to 2056

by David Badertscher

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)* Report. January 7, 2026.

In CBO’s projections, the U.S. population grows from 349 million people in 2026 to 364 million in 2056, and the average age rises. Starting in 2030, annual deaths exceed annual births, and net immigration accounts for all population growth.

SUMMARY:

January 9, 2026

How the U.S. Captured Nicolas Maduro: A Rapid, High Stakes Operation

by David Badertscher

Condensed from **“How the US Operation to Capture Maduro Unfolded” by Ryan Morgan, The Epoch Times (Jan. 3, 2026).

Late on January 2, 2026, President Donald Trump ordered a carefully planned U.S. special operations mission to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. Within five hours, U.S. forces had landed, overcome resistance, and exited Venezuelan airspace with Maduro and his wife in custody , all without any reported American casualties.

The mission, dubbed Operation Absolute Resolve, reflected months of preparation. Prior to the raid, the U.S. had built up military assets in the region , including warships, aircraft, and Marines , and repeatedly tightened pressure on Maduro through strikes on drug-related targets and a naval blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers.