The mission of the Connecticut Judicial Branch is to serve the interests of justice and the public by resolving matters brought before it in a fair, timely, efficient and open manner.

Criminal Law Appellate Court Opinions

by Booth, George

 

AC41916 - State v. Jackson (Violation of probation; "The defendant, Sean Jackson, appeals from the judgment of the trial court revoking his probation and imposing a sentence of six years of incarceration. On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) the evidence was insufficient to support a finding that he violated his probation, (2) the court erred in admitting hearsay testimony at the probation revocation hearing, and (3) the court abused its discretion when it imposed a sentence of six years of incarceration. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

AC42888 - State v. Harris (Murder; robbery in first degree; carrying pistol without permit; "The defendant, Jermaine Harris, appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of murder, robbery in the first degree, and carrying a pistol without a permit. On appeal, the defendant claims that (1) the trial court improperly admitted uncharged misconduct evidence, (2) his right to due process was violated when the prosecutor appealed to the emotions of the jurors and misstated evidence, and (3) his right to due process was violated when the state withheld material evidence. We disagree with the defendant and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of the trial court.")

AC42126 - State v. Auburn W. (Harassment in second degree; stalking in second degree; whether trial court improperly determined that defendant forfeited right to self-representation on basis of lack of competence; "The defendant, Auburn W., appeals from the judgments of conviction, rendered following a jury trial, of three counts of harassment in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-183 (a) (2), one count of harassment in the second degree in violation of § 53a-183 (a) (3), and one count of stalking in the second degree in violation of General Statutes (Rev. to 2015) § 53a-181d (b) (1). On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court improperly held that he forfeited his right to self-representation on the basis of a lack of competence. We disagree and, thus, affirm the judgments of the trial court.")

AC36358 - State v. Leniart (Murder; capital felony; "This case returns to this court on remand from our Supreme Court following its reversal of our judgment reversing the judgment of conviction of the defendant, George Michael Leniart, of murder in violation of General Statutes § 53a-54a (a), and three counts of capital felony in violation of General Statutes (Rev. to 1995) § 53a-54b (5), (7) and (9), as amended by Public Acts 1995, No. 95-16, § 4. The sole remaining claim before us is whether the trial court's improper exclusion of certain evidence at trial violated the defendant's rights under the United States constitution. We conclude that the defendant’s constitutional rights were not violated, and, accordingly, affirm the judgment of conviction.")

AC41745 - State v. Brown (Assault in first degree; "The defendant, Donald Brown, appeals from the judgment of conviction, rendered after a jury trial, of assault in the first degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-59 (a) (5). On appeal, the defendant claims that the evidence was insufficient to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt his asserted justification of self-defense and, accordingly, that he is entitled to a judgment of acquittal. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.")