This podcast covers case summaries distributed on 12/12/2025

Cases:

People v. Berumen, 2025COA93 (December 11, 2025); Trial court properly denied choice of evils instruction, and majority upholds 2022 reasonable doubt instruction over Judge Berger's dissent arguing "a real possibility" language is ambiguous and lowers prosecution's burden.

Davenport v. U.S., 607 U.S. ____ (Dec. 8, 2025); Cert denied as untimely, but Justice Sotomayor's opinion respecting denial emphasizes trial courts' continuing duty to make informed decisions about providing jury definitions of "reasonable doubt."

UNPUBLISHED People v. Johnson, 23CA1002 (December 11, 2025); Trial court abused discretion by answering jury question in manner that definitively resolved contested kidnapping element (whether 10-foot drag inside apartment satisfied movement requirement), impermissibly lowering prosecution's burden of proof; error not harmless.

UNPUBLISHED People v. Williams, 23CA0392 (December 11, 2025); District court erred by summarily denying postconviction claim of ineffective assistance for failure to adequately investigate alibi defense where identity was critical issue.

Clark v. Sweeney, 607 U.S. (Nov. 24, 2025); SCOTUS reverses 4th Circuit's grant of AEDPA relief because appeals court abused discretion by departing from party presentation principle and granting relief on claim petitioner never raised.

Pitts v. Mississippi, 607 U.S. (November 24, 2025); SCOTUS reverses conviction because trial court failed to make case-specific finding that need for screen between 4-year-old victim and defendant outweighed confrontation rights; remanded for harmless error analysis.

Links:

People v. Berumen, 2025COA93 (December 11, 2025)

https://files.constantcontact.com/45bb5db5401/9231d1b7-1f0e-4457-8bbc-1be44b8cb9be.pdf?rdr=true

UNPUBLISHED People v. Johnson, 23CA1002 (December 11, 2029)

https://files.constantcontact.com/45bb5db5401/6c0ee14d-ffca-45d4-8ffa-99f5ed8c72d2.pdf?rdr=true

UNPUBLISHED People v. Williams, 23CA0392 (December 11, 2025)

https://files.constantcontact.com/45bb5db5401/43bc7117-5608-4f57-b0cd-8a477e33ef28.pdf?rdr=true

Davenport v. U.S. (Dec. 8, 2025)

https://files.constantcontact.com/45bb5db5401/20510875-aca9-40b9-9872-9c430ff707f3.pdf?rdr=true

Clark v. Sweeney (Nov. 24, 2025)

https://files.constantcontact.com/45bb5db5401/b0956fb5-022c-41c4-94a3-9fdab06bdb36.pdf?rdr=true

Pitts v. Mississippi, (November 24, 2025)

https://files.constantcontact.com/45bb5db5401/7448ab36-ecfa-4f8f-8042-048c1c7607db.pdf?rdr=true

49 of 2025 Victory Newsletter

https://files.constantcontact.com/45bb5db5401/b630dca0-6c48-4008-be1d-1be409450e2a.pdf?rdr=true

48 of 2025 Victory Newsletter

https://files.constantcontact.com/45bb5db5401/bfeec268-e0d2-4763-8da2-3113b08b803c.pdf?rdr=true

Contact Shawndell Irving here: Shawndell Irving

Music by Scott Holmes. Used under a Creative Commons license. Download today's music at: http://freemusicarchive.org/

NOTE regarding unpublished Colorado Court of Appeals opinions: Please remember the Court of Appeals Policy states that the citation of unpublished opinions in the Court of Appeals is forbidden, with limited exceptions. Copies of unpublished opinions are provided for private use and are not to be included in an electronic database or otherwise published. Also, please note that you are free to cite unpublished cases in the district court for whatever persuasive value the judge may give them. Patterson v. James, 2018 COA 173, ¶¶ 40-43. You may request unpublished cases from the COA at http://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Court_Of_Appeals/Opinion_Request.cfm