Thomas Jefferson CrimProf Offers Insight on Trial Strategies

Yesterday marked the beginning of the death-penalty trial of Adrian Camacho, a man accused of killing a police officer in Oceanside, CA.  Rumors that a potential juror criticized the slain officer's police department, sparked discussion about jury selection and trial strategies.  CrimProf Marjorie Cohn of Thomas Jefferson Law commented.

From SanDiego.com: "Cohn said it is a common defense tactic in death-penalty cases to narrow the jury's focus to what crime the defendant is guilty of committing. 'This is not a whodunit. This is a question of why he did it,' Cohn said. 'The mental state can change the level of the offense and whether or not he is guilty of the crime charged by the prosecution.'" Story... [Mark Godsey]