In our Legal Updates Spring 2013 column we feature cases that address the following issues:

• Counsel was not ineffective for failing to present testimony of false confession expert
• Military Appeals Court upholds decision to exclude testimony of false confession expert ñ Dr. Christian Meissner
• Human Lie Detector evidence
• Recording interrogations not required in Pennsylvania; false confession expert testimony excluded
• Circumstances that indicate juvenile interrogation was not custodial
• Colorado Supreme Court abandons the corpus delicti rule and puts in its place, the trustworthiness standard
• Illinois Supreme Court also addresses the corpus delicti rule
• How much corroboration is needed to support the trustworthiness of a confession?
• Improper offer of leniency nullifies a confession
• When a suspect is not in custody no need to stop questioning when they request an attorney
• ìthe very outer limit as to what tactics law enforcement may employ when performing a custodial interrogationî
• What constitutes mental retardation?
• Court precludes Dr. Richard Ofshe from testifying as an expert witness on false confessions
• Juvenile interrogation ñ voluntariness considerations; value of video recording
• Court rejects the claim that the ìReid techniqueî caused an involuntary confession; jury rejects Dr. Leo testimony
• The value of recording interrogations
• Faulty District Attorney strategy re the advisement of rights
• Value of recording interrogations to discredit defendantís allegations