First Thursday, August 2026

The Brady Rule affirms that the government, because of its obligation to provide defendants with a fair trial, must turn over favorable, exculpatory evidence to a criminal defendant. Over the years, Brady has become as impactful on public safety labor law as it has in criminal law. Brady Lists of officers with histories of misconduct that could impact their credibility exist in jurisdictions across the country. In this month’s First Thursday, Rick covers three Brady cases from Virginia, New Jersey, and Iowa and discusses how the Rule is being applied. Court Balances Brady Discovery Against Officers’ Cell Phone Privacy, United States v. David, No. 7:26-cr-00006 (W.D. Va. June 30, 2026). (23:40) Public Defender Entitled to Common Law Access to Police IA “Appendix K” Reports, N.J. Off. of the Pub. DEF. v. N.J. Dep’t of Law, 2026 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 757 (42:14) Iowa Supreme Court Limits On Placing Officers On Brady Lists, Richmond v. Jefferson County Attorney, (Iowa 2026) (1:05:21)