Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Early praise for "Anatomy of a False Confession"

The publisher has just received the first review of my forthcoming book, Anatomy of a False Confession: The Interrogation and Conviction of Brendan Dassey (Rowman & Littlefield, Nov. 2018).  False confession expert, author, and professor Richard Leo writes:

Michael Cicchini has written a wonderfully descriptive and insightful book, the definitive account of the interrogations of Brendan Dassey and his coerced, contaminated and (almost certainly) false confessions.  Cicchini masterfully describes the tricks of the interrogation trade . . .  Anyone who watched the Netflix series Making a Murderer with rapt fascination will want to read this book.
— Richard A. Leo, author, Police Interrogation and American Justice; Hamill Family Professor of Law and Psychology, University of San Francisco

Pre-order your copy of Anatomy of a False Confession today!
 

Monday, May 21, 2018

Matt Flynn for Governor!


Join us at a "Meet and Greet" for Matt Flynn, this FRIDAY MAY 25th from 6-8 pm near downtown Kenosha.  Details on the flyer (left).  Learn more about Matt and his stance on the issues, including criminal justice reform, here.

If you'd like to attend and meet Matt, please RSVP to Michael Cicchini at mdc@CicchiniLaw.com or (262) 652-7109.

(Regretably, due to other commitments, Knightly will not be able to attend the event.)

Monday, May 14, 2018

In Halen and Ex Halen (and Waiting)

I was just wondering when Van Halen is going to come out with a new album.  If memory serves, they got back with David Lee Roth in 2007.  And since then, unless I've missed something we’ve gotten two new songs on a “best of” CD – very good songs, by the way – and one new album.  The album was also very good.  But that’s it!  One album and two songs in more than a decade!  C’mon, guys.  You don’t have to go on tour or anything.  (I’ve always thought live music sounds like bunk anyway.)  Just put out a new album.  Let’s create more of the VH magic before you’re too old to do it.  And if VH won’t get to work, how about an Eat ’Em and Smile reunion album, Dave?  You don’t even have to write new songs.  Just redo the original album acoustical style, or something.  If we can’t enjoy the greatest band of all time (Van Halen), maybe we can still enjoy the second greatest band (and probably the greatest guitarist) of all time.

Monday, May 7, 2018

Anatomy of a False Confession

My new book, Anatomy of a False Confession: The Interrogation and Conviction of Brendan Dassey (Rowman & Littlefield), is now available for pre-order at R&L and Amazon.  The book will be published in November of this year.  The chapters are divided into several sections, including "inside the interrogation room," "trials, tribulations, and appeals," and "making a federal case of it."  The book also includes several introductory chapters on false confession basics, and concluding chapters on how we should reform the system to better protect ourselves from government agents like Wiegert and Fassbender.

Friday, May 4, 2018

Now in print: Combating Prosecutorial Misconduct in Closing Arguments

I previously posted a draft of my article that identifies ten different categories of improper prosecutorial arguments. The article also provides a sample motion in limine to prevent the misconduct before it happens, along with sample curative instructions for when prosecutors break the rules anyway. The article has now been published by the Oklahoma Law Review, and you can find it here: Combating Prosecutorial Misconduct in Closing Arguments70 Okla. L. Rev. 887 (2018). Stay tuned to The Legal Watchdog for soon-to-be-published articles on behavioral research and the law (with L. White) and a test of other-acts evidence and curative instructions (also with L. White). Or if you just can't wait to set your eyes on these works, you can find the pre-publication drafts, along with all of my previously-published articles, here. Enjoy!