Brendan Dassey: Illlinois; False confessions; 'Making a murderer.'...Brendan Dassey faces crucial hearing Tuesday before federal appeals court, reports USA Today Network; Reporter Andy Thompson; September 22, 2017..."The key issue is whether detectives coerced a confession from Dassey, who was 16 at the time of Halbach’s murder, or if they acted within the scope of proper police procedure."
"Brendan Dassey’s lawyers have racked-up some monumental victories in the past 13 months. They
laid the groundwork for a federal judge to overturn Dassey’s conviction
in the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach — a ruling that was later affirmed
by a federal appeals panel. But there have been setbacks as well. Dassey’s
attempts to be freed from prison on conditional bond were rebuffed and,
more importantly, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh
Circuit in Chicago decided last month to re-hear the case, which was
prominently featured in the Netflix docu-series “Making a Murderer.” Oral
arguments will be held on Tuesday. The court’s ruling — which is a
virtual lock to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court — could ultimately
determine whether Dassey will be re-tried, released from prison, or
serve out his life sentence. The key issue is
whether detectives coerced a confession from Dassey, who was 16 at the
time of Halbach’s murder, or if they acted within the scope of proper
police procedure. “The full court could go either way,” said former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske. On
Aug. 12, 2016, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Duffin, who is based in
Milwaukee, overturned Dassey’s conviction, ruling that investigators
made “repeated false promises” that rendered his confession to the crime
involuntary. The Wisconsin Department of Justice
appealed, and, on June 22, a three-judge panel at the Seventh Circuit
affirmed Duffin’s ruling by a 2-1 margin. But
that didn't settle the issue. In early August, the Seventh Circuit
granted a request by the state justice department to have the entire
panel of judges rehear the case. It is known as an “en banc” review."