Topic
Sentencing
11,938 published works
Supreme Court Update
Cunningham v. California (05-6551), Osborn v. Haley (05-593), Jones v. Bock (05-7058) and order list
Greetings, Court Fans! The Court is on recess again (until February 20) but before departing it issued three new decisions. The lead case was another example of the carnage that…
Supreme Court Update
Chambers v. United States (06-11206) and Jimenez v. Quarterman (07-6984)
By Kim Rinehart
Notwithstanding a plethora of decisions in recent years on both the application of the mandatory minimum sentence under the Armed Career Criminals Act ("ACCA") and the one year limitation period…
Supreme Court Update
Moore v. United States (07-10689) and order list
Greetings, Court Fans! We're barely a week into the new Term, and already we have an opinion for you from Tuesday – although it's just an unsigned per curiam opinion…
Sentencing Law and Policy
Gearing up for the federal sentencing of Felicity Huffman and others involved in college bribery scandal
Just over a week before the highest-profile sentencing of the bunch, USA Today has this lengthy review of federal sentencing realities and prospects for a range of defendants involved in…
Simple Justice
Last Victim Standing
Rarely, by which I mean I can’t recall it ever happening before, has anyone been outraged at the New York State Board of Parole for releasing a prisoner. The reason…
Simple Justice
When Truth Isn’t Truthy* Enough
It made the rounds of criminal law reform sympathizers, for lack of a better word. They “ooh” and “aww” at every outrage. They see everything as an outrage. Every cop…
Illinois Post-Conviction Blog
Denial of leave to file successive petition reversed where day-for-day eligible 80-year sentence constituted de facto life sentence
By Nate Nieman
The appellant in People v. Peacock, 2019 IL App (1st) 170308 appealed the trial court’s decision denying leave to file his successive post-conviction petition, on the grounds that his sentence constituted…
Sentencing Law and Policy
Yet another great set of new Quick Facts publications from US Sentencing Commission
I am always eager to praise the US Sentencing Commission for continuing to produce a steady stream of its insightful little data documents in its terrific series of reader-friendly "Quick Facts"…
Sentencing Law and Policy
Shaming and handwriting requirements in sentencing for offenders who falsely claimed to be veterans
As reported in this AP piece, headlined "Montana Men Get Writing Assignment for False Military Claims," a local judge in Montana created a notable set of additional requirements in the…
Sentencing Law and Policy
Seeking input and perspectives on “hot topics” in sentencing law, policy and practice
I am very excited that this afternoon I have the honor and privilege to begin teaching a new group of bright Ohio State students my Sentencing Law course. I have…