Latest Updates
Federal Relief & Sentencing Updates
Federal sentencing updates covering appellate decisions, compassionate release developments, Bureau of Prisons issues, Supreme Court activity, and post-conviction litigation affecting federal relief considerations.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — February 5–9, 2024
February 2024 federal plea and supervised-release update covering Sims special-condition review, Smithers Ruan new trial, Malmquist plea-agreement breach, Lester early termination authority, Devereaux crime-of-violence predicate reversal, Sentencing Commission guideline monitoring, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — January 29–February 2, 2024
February 2024 federal § 3553 and compassionate-release update covering Watkins sentencing explanation error, Hohn en banc attorney-client intrusion review, compassionate release based on nonretroactive changes in law, Amendment 821 screening, federal prison rumor control, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — January 22–26, 2024
January 2024 federal Speedy Trial and plea-relief update covering Hart witness-tampering Speedy Trial Act relief, Newby Rogers resentencing, Tighe § 2255 appeal-consultation claim, Simpkins Indian Country sufficiency reversal, Swan involuntary plea withdrawal, Kearn plea-bargaining ineffective assistance, proposed guideline amendments, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — January 15–19, 2024
January 2024 federal plea and crime-of-violence update covering Arce-Ayala guilty plea withdrawal after sentencing-credit misunderstanding, Daye Iowa domestic abuse assault predicate review, Chevron oral argument in Loper Bright and Relentless, First Step Act reform discussion, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — January 8–12, 2024
January 2024 federal § 924(c) and Confrontation Clause update covering Smith v. Arizona forensic expert testimony, Erlinger ACCA different-occasions review, Chance Taylor § 924(c) relief, Ortiz-Orellana § 924(c)/§ 924(j) sentencing issues, Pettus obstruction enhancement resentencing, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — January 1–5, 2024
January 2024 federal drug and firearm sentencing update covering Evans methamphetamine guideline errors, Gallagher trial-theory and evidentiary errors, Diaz-Diaz § 924(j) resentencing after Lora, Gamez Indiana arson ACCA predicate relief, Gatlin witness-tampering federal nexus reversal, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — November 20–24, 2023
November 2023 federal ACCA and hearsay update covering Brown and Jackson ACCA serious drug offense review, McElrath double jeopardy after insanity acquittal, Wilkinson immigration hardship review, Yellowhorse Rule 804(b)(3) self-inculpatory hearsay analysis, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — Special Thanksgiving Edition, November 22, 2023
Special Thanksgiving Edition covering Erlinger v. United States, ACCA different-occasions jury findings, Sixth Amendment sentencing rights, Supreme Court drug-case watch, safety-valve eligibility, forfeiture due process, ACCA drug predicates, forensic expert testimony, drug mens rea evidence, and federal relief screening.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — November 13–17, 2023
November 2023 federal firearm and mens rea update covering Rahimi Second Amendment review, Diaz Rule 704(b) drug-courier expert testimony, Miles multiplicitous firearm convictions, Williams and Prince § 922(g)(1) Bruen decisions, and BOP relief statistics.
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Federal Relief & Sentencing Developments — November 6–10, 2023
November 2023 federal restitution and acquitted-conduct update covering Rahimi Second Amendment review, Sweatt restitution payment-schedule authority under § 3664(k), H.R. 5430 acquitted-conduct legislation, BOP statistics, and federal relief screening.