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

• The value of recording interrogations; implication of a lighter sentence rejected
• No requirement to record interrogation in Second Circuit
• U.S. District Court excludes the testimony of Dr. Richard Leo: "his theories are both unreliable and irrelevant"
• Value of video recording interrogation: pregnancy did not affect defendant's ability to understand what was going on
• Court excludes the testimony of Dr. Debra Davis on the issue of false confessions
• Does a request for a lawyer before Miranda warnings are given require the investigators to stop questioning the suspect?
• Statements to the defendant that his denials were "bullshit" and that he was "kind of screwed" and that he was "fucked" were not threats
• Ohio juvenile not statutorily entitled to counsel during an interrogation which occurs prior to invocation of court's jurisdiction
• Can a suspect who claims he was in the "midst of a psychotic break from reality" during the interrogation give a voluntary statement?
• Interrogator's "empathetic and caring demeanor" was not coercive
• Interrogator deception that "crosses the line"
• Fifth Miranda warning not required
• Police do not have to tell suspect defense counsel is present if suspect waived his rights
• The value of recording: examining the issue of mental illness on the admissibility of a confession
• Do statements such as, "these things happen, it is ok"; "we don't believe you had any intentions of doing it" and "a tragic accident occurred" offer a promise of leniency?
• Improper promise of leniency- treatment in lieu of jail