Partners Submit Letter to the Rules Committee in Support of Expanding Use of Depositions in Criminal Cases
On March 12, 2026, Spears Manning & Martini partners Brian Spears, Steve Manning, and Joseph Martini submitted a letter to the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure in support of amending Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to expand the use of depositions in criminal cases, an important change the Committee is considering, which would rightsize the discovery process that is otherwise weighted in the government’s favor. The letter highlights concerns that the expanded use of depositions would address, including unequal access to witnesses, undisclosed exculpatory information, and barriers to confronting and cross-examining witnesses.
View the letter here (PDF)