2010 State Finals Information   |  County Coordinators   |  Important Dates   |  Case Brief   |  Rules / Rules Changes   |  Errata   |  Forms / Download    |  Courtroom Artist   |  Courtroom Journalist   |  2009 Competition Results   |  Previous Competition Results   |  Volunteers   |   CRF Youth Site   |  Join CRF Alumni   |  Message Board

CASE BRIEF
People v. Bratton

People v. Bratton is the trial of Jordan Bratton, a resident of the town of Hollyville. Bratton is charged with murder in the First Degree of entertainment critic Preston Palmer.

The prosecution alleges that Bratton was an up-and-coming comedian who grew angry with Palmer due to Palmer’s negative reviews posted on two web sites, Twitter and YellUp. These negative reviews led Bratton to murder Palmer in Palmer’s driveway via strangulation.

The defense alleges that Bratton had no part in the murder of Palmer. On the night of the murder, Bratton was at a comedy club working on material and hoping to get on stage. The defense further argues that Palmer’s reviews had outraged many people, and thus it is unclear who murdered Palmer.

The pretrial issue involves the Fourth Amendment freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. The defense argues that the search was outside of the scope of the warrant. The defense claims that search was an invasion of Bratton’s privacy and right to be secure from unreasonable search and seizure. The defense also contends that the “plain view” exception does not apply.

The prosecution argues that the search was legal because the YellUp account and threat fall under the section of the warrant authorizing the search of  “records and information relating to the purchase of items possibly involved in murder of Preston Palmer.” The prosecution holds that even if the search was outside the scope of the warrant, the discovery of the threat falls under the “plain view” exception and thus should be allowed as evidence.