Belmont Criminal Law Journal

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We are so excited to announce that the executive board has officially selected the two Notes that will be published in Volume V. Congratulations to Ally Nawrocki and Rylie MacKinnon whose Notes were selected for publication. Stay tuned for Volume V!

Check out our executive board!!!

We are excited to announce Belmont’s Criminal Law Journal’s 2022 Symposium. This year’s symposium is entitled Global Perspective: Criminal Justice Reform in the United States and Around the World.

Due to the continued speed of the coronavirus, the year’s symposium will be held entirely online via zoom. For more information, please visit our website or message us!

On Wednesday, Tennessee lawmakers met at a joint committee, consisting of 12 representatives, to discuss the options to change the state's s*x offender registry laws. This is due to the increase in recent lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the laws as a punitive measure. Judges have begun ruling for certain people to be taken off the registry, so the validity of the laws could be in question. Lawmakers are looking at the possibility to establish a board to look at individual cases for relief from the registry.

For more information: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2021/10/14/tennessee-s*x-offender-registry-may-be-thrown-out-court-unlawful/8442852002/

On October 7, 2021 the FBI raided the Sevier County Courthouse in Sevierville, Tennessee and now two deputy clerks are facing federal charges. The clerks are accused of illegally registering and titling stolen vehicles involved in a theft and co***ne distribution ring. The clerks supposedly did this in exchange for “cash payments and food.” As of right now, it is believed that no public funds were misused.

Link to article for more information: https://www.wate.com/news/local-news/fbi-raids-courthouse-after-2-sevier-county-deputy-clerks-indicted/

In June, a South Carolina lawyer, Alex Murdaugh, found his wife and one of his two sons murdered at their home. Three months later, Mr. Murdaugh was inspecting a flat tire on his car when he was shot in the head. On September 16th, Murdaugh turned himself in, admitting he hired a past client to make his su***de look like a murder in hopes of his life insurance plan paying out $10 million to his son. Mr. Murdaugh is now being charged with insurance fraud, filing a false police report, and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.

For more information: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/19/us/murdaugh-murders-alex-paul.html

After a 23-day trial that included at least 50 witnesses, the jury is now deliberating. Famous R&B singer Robert Sylvester Kelly ("R. Kelly") is accused of running a criminal enterprise while facing numerous charges including racketeering, s*x trafficking, s*xual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, bribery, and violations of the Mann Act. The singer is facing a prison sentence anywhere between 10 years and life. Following this New York federal trial, R. Kelly will additionally face similar federal charges in Illinois and Minnesota.

Links to both articles:

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1039405194/r-kelly-trial-jury

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/24/us/r-kelly-trial-jury-deliberations/index.html