U.S. federal courts can manage large multi-defendant criminal indictments by dividing defendants into smaller groups for separate status conferences and pretrial scheduling.
November 24, 2025
high
procedural
Pretrial case-management technique used to handle complexity and convenience in large indictments.
U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit precedent holds that pretrial publicity, even when intense, is not by itself a constitutional defect that automatically requires dismissal of charges.
November 21, 2025
high
legal_principle
Established appellate precedent regarding the effect of media coverage on criminal prosecutions.
Careful questioning of prospective jurors during voir dire is a standard judicial procedure used to mitigate potential prejudice from pretrial publicity instead of dismissing an indictment or categorically barring a particular punishment.
November 21, 2025
high
procedural
Voir dire is a routine method courts use to assess juror impartiality and address publicity-related bias.
Law enforcement officers are generally permitted to search a suspect's immediate possessions, such as a backpack, incident to arrest in order to ensure officer safety by checking for dangerous items.
November 21, 2025
high
evidence_and_search
Searches incident to arrest are a recognized exception to warrant requirements when aimed at officer safety or preservation of evidence.
Vindictive prosecution motions are infrequently successful in U.S. federal criminal cases.
November 19, 2025
high
legal_procedural
In U.S. practice, motions alleging prosecutorial vindictiveness are available but are rarely granted.
Defendants in federal criminal prosecutions can move to dismiss indictments by arguing the prosecution was vindictive or selectively pursued due to prosecutorial animus or improper motives.
November 19, 2025
high
legal_procedural
Federal defendants may raise selective or vindictive prosecution claims as a defense seeking dismissal of charges.
The statute of limitations can create time pressure that may prompt prosecutors to file indictments shortly before the limitations period expires.
November 19, 2025
high
legal_procedural
Imminent expiration of statutory time limits for bringing charges can lead to expedited charging decisions by prosecutors.
Pretrial detention and release decisions can take into account a defendant's mental health and the defendant's ability to attend future court hearings across jurisdictions.
high
legal
Factors courts commonly consider when determining whether to detain a defendant before trial.
Motions alleging vindictive prosecution in U.S. criminal cases are not frequently successful.
medium
legal
General observation about the typical outcomes of vindictive prosecution motions in U.S. criminal practice.