Early steps in the case

• Author: Deja Vishny
• Pages: 37-96

EARLY STEPS

IN THE CASE

1-1

CHAPTER 1

EARLY STEPS IN THE CASE

I. INTRODUCTION

II. INITIAL CLIENT INTERVIEW

A. Preliminary Matters

§1:01 Before the Interview

§1:02 During the Interview

B. Questions re: Social History

§1:03 Education

§1:04 Work History

§1:05 Medical History

§1:06 Mental Health History

§1:07 Family History

§1:08 Law Enforcement Contact History

[§1:09 Reserved]

C. Questions re: Fourth Amendment Motions

§1:10 Questions Concerning Client’s Reasonable Expectation of Privacy

§1:10.1 Questions Pertaining to Standing: Vehicles

§1:10.2 Questions Pertaining to Standing: Residences

§1:11 Questions re: Client’s Initial Contact with Police. Was there a Seizure?

§1:11.1 Vehicles

§1:11.2 Public Places

§1:11.3 Homes and Businesses

§1:12 Questions re: Pat Downs and Full Searches of Client’s Person

§1:13 Questions re: Searches of Vehicles

§1:14 Questions re: Searches of Residences

§1:15 Questions re: Consent to Search

§1:16 Questions re: Arrest

§1:17 Questions re: Arrests and Searches by Probation and Parole Agents

[§§1:18-1:19 Reserved]

D. Questions re: Motions to Suppress Statements

1. Governing Principles

2. Questions to Ask in Every Case

§1:20 Custodial Status

§1:21 Client’s Activities Prior to Interrogation

§1:22 Arrest and Conf‌inement Conditions

§1:23 Interrogation Room Description

§1:24 Communications

§1:25 “Lie Detector” Tests

[§1:26 Reserved]

EARLY STEPS

IN THE CASE

Suppressing Criminal Evidence 1-2

3. Questions to Ask When Interrogation was Recorded

§1:27 Review the Entire Tape with Your Client

4. Questions to Recreate an Unrecorded Interrogation

§1:28 Miranda Warnings

§1:29 Assertion of Right to Remain Silent and Counsel

§1:30 Pre-Offense Interview

§1:31 Confrontation Statement and Handling Denials

§1:32 Bait Questions & Discussions of Evidence

§1:33 Theme Development

§1:34 Physical Positioning

§1:35 Client’s Admissions

§1:36 Police Personalities

§1:37 Multiple Interrogations

§1:38 Contamination

[§1:39 Reserved]

III. DISCOVERY

A. Governing Principles

B. Required by Statute

§1:40 Federal Court

§1:41 State Court

C. Required by the Constitution

§1:42 Exculpatory Evidence, Including Impeachment Evidence

§1:43 Reserved

D. Common Discovery Issues

§1:44 Conf‌idential Informants

§1:45 Drug Dogs

§1:46 Conf‌idential Records

E. Standard Discovery Demands and Motions

§1:47 Information Not Automatically Provided

§1:48 Sample Discovery Demands/Motions

[§§1:49-1:54 Reserved]

IV. INVESTIGATING YOUR CASE

§1:55 Interview Witnesses

§1:56 Visit the Scene

§1:57 Investigate the Off‌icers

§1:58 Web Resources

§1:59 Experts

§1:60 Exhibits

V. FORMS

Form 1-1 General Release

Form 1-2 Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s Motion to Compel Production of Grand Jury Transcript

Form 1-3 Motion for in camera Inspection and Disclosure of Identity of Conf‌idential Informants

Form 1-4 Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for in camera Inspection and Disclosure of

Identity of Conf‌idential Informants

Form 1-5 Motion for in camera Inspection of Police Investigation and Personnel Records

Form 1-6 Brief in Support of Motion for in camera Inspection of Police Investigation and Personnel Records

Form 1-7 Discovery Demand [State Court]

Form 1-8 Discovery Demand [Federal Court]

Form 1-9 Motion to Compel Discovery – Items Not Provided by Prosecutor [Federal Court]

Form 1-10 Subpoena duces tecum – Police Policies and Practices

Form 1-11 Motion to Release Records from Juvenile File

Form 1-12 Motion for in camera Review of Conf‌idential Records (Psych. Treatment)

EARLY STEPS

IN THE CASE

1-3 Early Steps in the Case §1:02

I. INTRODUCTION

   

  



    



   

    















−







II. INITIAL CLIENT INTERVIEW

  

  −





 





A. Preliminary Mat ters

§1:01 Before the Interview





  



PRACTICE POINTER: Obtain discovery before interview whenever possible

You will be able to do a better job of identifying key issues when you conduct your in-depth client inter-

view if you have already read the discovery. Whenever possible, get a copy of the police reports and review

them before you interview the client and supporting witnesses. If these reports are not available to you, get a

copy of the criminal complaint, indictment or probable cause statement before the client comes in. If the case

involves the execution of a search warrant, you may be able to get a copy of the warrant and return from the

courts. The more information you have, the more eff‌icient and pointed you will be in obtaining information

from your client and witnesses. See §1:40, et seq., Discovery.

§1:02 During the Interview



 

 