The Stakes on January 6

MICHAEL C. DORF

Cornell law professor Michael C. Dorf describes what is at stake on Wednesday, January 6, when Congress meets in joint session to confirm Joe Biden’s election as President. Professor Dorf explains why, although Trump apparently lacks the majority necessary to invalidate a duly chose electoral slate, the stakes are still very high.

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State v. Seidel

Citation: 2020 S.D. 73

Opinion Date: December 30, 2020

Judge: Devaney

Areas of Law: Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions and sentences for kidnapping, rape, aggravated assault, and commission of a felony with a firearm, holding that there was no error or abuse of discretion. Specifically, the Supreme Court held (1) the circuit court did not abuse its discretion when it granted the State's motion in limine regarding erotic asphyxiation; (2) Defendant's prosecutorial misconduct claims were unfounded; (3) the circuit court did not err in denying Defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal on all counts on which Defendant was convicted; and (4) Defendant's seventy-five-year sentence was not grossly disproportionate in violation of the Eighth Amendment.