The Criminal Justice System in Its Environment 1
Disciplinary Assignment: The Criminal Justice System in Its Environment
Priscilla Whitney
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
September 6, 2025
The Criminal Justice System in Its Environment 2
Abstract
The United States Supreme Court will hear cases upon appeal to determine the fairness,
legality of laws, and rights of citizens. The founding fathers of the United States cautiously
outlined the U.S. Constitution to specify guarantees and rights of equality. The United States
legal system is founded on the principle of equal rights. Many Supreme Court rulings have
increased the guarantees and rights offered to us due to decisions of prior rulings.
The Criminal Justice System in Its Environment 3
Disciplinary Assignment: The Criminal Justice System in Its Environment
Memorandum-Part 1
TO: Dr. Ford
FROM: Priscilla Whitney
DATE: September 5, 2025
SUBJECT: U.S. Supreme Court Case Review
Main Issues: Brady v. Maryland U.S. 83 (1963)
John Brady was a co- defendant charged with murder. The co-defendant received a
separate trial for the same crime. At the time of the trial John Brady was found guilty and
sentenced to death. Brady maintained his innocence. Following the original trail, it was later
revealed that his co-defendant admitted to law enforcement officials that he was guilty of the
crime. This admission of guilt was never presented to John Brady’s defense team. The main
issue of this case was discovery. Discovery must be shared with the prosecution and defense at
the time of trial. The U. S. Supreme court ruled that the prosecution had a duty to turn over the
exculpatory evidence to the other party and they failed to do so. As a result of this case we now
of the “Brady Rule”. Under the Brady rule the prosecution is legally bound to disclose to other
party of the case any and all exculpatory evidence regardless of whether they acted in good faith
or not. Violating the Brady rule could result in a mistrial if it is discovered that the prosecution
purposely failed to disclose evidence from the defense.
The Criminal Justice System in Its Environment 4
Main Issues: Giglio v. United States U.S. 150 (1972)
John Giglio Who was convicted of passing forged money orders. Giglio stated that he
passed the forged money order to Robert Taliento. Taliento stated that he was supplying John
with money from his forged money orders. At the time of the trial Taliento testified as a witness
against Giglio. During the trial Giglio’s defense team discovered Taliento was offered immunity
for this testimony promising that if he testified against Giglio his own charges would be
dismissed. Giglio’s defense team sought a new trial after discovering the witnesses’ deal for his
testimony. The offer of immunity was not divulged to the defense team until the witness
provided his testimony originally. Taliento violated Giglio’s fifth amendment rights. The U.S.
Supreme court ruled clarified that the prosecution’s failure to divulge a deal with a key witness
for leniency in exchange for testimony violated the defendant due process rights. Under this
ruling John Giglo was given a new trial. The main issue of this court case was that prosecution’s
office worked with the police department to withhold sustained occurrence affecting criminal
trials and convictions. The prosecution cannot legally withhold evidence from the defense. As a
result of this case we now have “Giglio list”. The Giglio list is a list of officers with reliability
matters that prosecutors must sustain and divulge to the defense team at trial.
Main Issues: United States v. Agurs U.S 97 (1976)
The United States Supreme Court will hear cases upon appeal to determine the fairness,
legality of laws, and rights of citizens. The founding fathers of the United States cautiously
outlined the U.S. Constitution to specify guarantees and rights of equality. The United States
legal system is founded on the principle of equal rights. Many Supreme Court rulings have
increased the guarantees and rights offered to us due to decisions of prior rulings. The U.S.
The Criminal Justice System in Its Environment 5
Supreme court’s ruling in this case helped to establish the standard of evaluation within the
context of the case and not in isolation. This case clarified the duty or obligation to divulge
material evidence without the need for the defense to request the material evidence that relates to
the defendant’s case.
The Criminal Justice System in Its Environment 6
References
Stojkovic, Kalinich, Klofas (6th Ed.). Criminal Justice Organizations, Cengage.
United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97 (1976)
Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963)
Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972)
Cornell Law School. (2025, September). Brady Rule,
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/brady_rule
Oyez. (2025, September). https://www.oyez.org/cases/1971/70-29
