Topic
Sentencing
11,938 published works
Criminal
Though guidelines recommend federal LWOP sentence for Derek Chauvin, plea deal provides for concurrent sentence between 20 and 25 years
I just got a chance to look at the high-profile federal plea agreement entered yesterday in US District Court in Minnesota in US v Chauvin. This Justice Department press release…
Sentencing Law and Policy
Guest post: "Florida’s Catch-22 for the Innocent Defendant (and Others Wishing to to Protect Their Right Against Self-Incrimination)"
In the wake of a notable sentencing ruling by Florida Supreme Court earlier this month (discussed here), I asked Prof. M. Eve Hanan of the UNLV Boyd School of Law…
Criminal
Death threats to Speaker Pelosi leads to 28-month (below guideline, above plea deal) federal sentence
This Politico article reports on a notable federal sentencing today under this full headline: "QAnon follower gets 28-month sentence for death threats to Pelosi: Judge says continuing election-fraud rhetoric from…
Sentencing Law and Policy
Accounting for the first 50 sentences imposed on January 6 rioters
This new CNN piece, headlined "After 50 rioters sentenced for January 6 insurrection, a debate rages over what justice looks like," reports on a new analysis of sentences for the…
Criminal
Is Jussie Smollett likely to get probation after convictions on five low-level state felony counts of disorderly conduct?
Today seemed to be the day for high-profile convictions of TV stars (or maybe not-quite stars). Not long after the federal conviction of Josh Duggar in Arkansas (basics here), a…
Criminal
Noting differing perceptions of whether prison time is too long or too short or just right in the US
Over at the Pew Research Center, John Gramlich has this interesting new piece under the headline "U.S. public divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much or too…
Sentencing Law and Policy
Fourth Circuit panel finds probation sentence for abusive police officer procedurally <em>and</em> substantively unreasonable
I just saw a notable Fourth Circuit per curiam panel ruling which was handed down on Thanksgiving Eve. The (unpublished) opinion in US v. George, No. 19-4841 (4th Cir. Nov.…
Criminal
Fourth Circuit panel finds probation sentence for abusive police officer procedurally <em>and</em> substantively unreasonable
I just saw a notable Fourth Circuit per curiam panel ruling which was handed down on Thanksgiving Eve. The (unpublished) opinion in US v. George, No. 19-4841 (4th Cir. Nov.…
Criminal
Split Florida Supreme Court upholds imposition of maximum sentence based in part on defendant’s claim of innocence
Via a lengthy divided ruling, the Florida Supreme Court handed down some interesting opinion today in Davis v. Florida, No. SC19-716 (Fla. Dec. 2, 2021) (available here). Because the various…
Sentencing Law and Policy
Split Florida Supreme Court upholds imposition of maximum sentence based in part on defendant's claim of innocence
Via a lengthy divided ruling, the Florida Supreme Court handed down some interesting opinion today in Davis v. Florida, No. SC19-716 (Fla. Dec. 2, 2021) (available here). Because the various…