Sentencing/Post Conviction

Defendant can be required to write essay on respect for judiciary and to delete negative comments, appeals court says

A judge didn’t err when he ordered a frequent Facebook poster who violated a ban on courtroom recording to write an essay on respect for the judiciary and to delete negative posts, according to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Dec 6, 2019 9:59 AM CST

What goes on in the mind of a sentencing judge?

A new book by Judge Frederic Block gives a behind-the-scenes look at a judge’s thoughts and feelings when imposing punishments. Block is candid and self-reflective in the book and also wonders where the line should be drawn in exercising judicial powers.

Dec 4, 2019 6:00 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: DC Circuit doesn’t disturb blocked executions; polite bank robber entitled to lower sentence

DC Circuit declines to stay or vacate injunction stopping federal executions The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has declined to stay or vacate a judge’s injunction delaying the executions of four federal inmates. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan had ruled that the inmates were likely…

Dec 2, 2019 3:57 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Subpoenas reportedly seek Giuliani-related information; 3 exonerated after 36 years in prison

Subpoenas reportedly seek information related to Giuliani and his consulting firm Federal prosecutors who are investigating two associates of lawyer Rudy Giuliani have issued subpoenas seeking documents relating to the lawyer and his consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, according to anonymous sources who spoke with multiple publications. The investigation also reportedly…

Nov 26, 2019 4:45 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Barr sees ‘perfect storm of screw-ups’ in Epstein death; law school gives up ABA accreditation

AG Barr concludes Jeffrey Epstein’s death due to ‘perfect storm of screw-ups’ U.S. Attorney General William Barr says he initially had suspicions about multimillionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein’s jailhouse death, but he eventually concluded that the convicted sex offender died by suicide. Barr told the Associated Press that he reviewed security…

Nov 25, 2019 4:09 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Conviction tossed because of juror’s love pursuit; suit alleges ‘perilous’ prison environment

Appeals court tosses conviction because juror sought relationship with witness A New York appeals court has tossed the attempted murder conviction of Tysheem McGregor because of a juror’s romantic interest in a prosecution witness who was testifying as part of a cooperation agreement. The juror wrote to the witness during…

Nov 22, 2019 4:15 PM CST

Texas court stays execution of Rodney Reed in case that attracted high-profile supporters

The highest criminal court in Texas has halted the execution of inmate Rodney Reed to allow a trial court to consider his claim of actual innocence along with other allegations.

Nov 18, 2019 3:18 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Law students object to ‘Carey Law’ name; First Step Act beneficiary charged with murder

‘Carey Law’ doesn’t sit well with some Pennsylvania students and grads Law students and alumni at the University of Pennsylvania are not happy about its Nov. 8 name change and have shared their displeasure in a petition. The law school, formerly known as the University of Pennsylvania Law School, will…

Nov 11, 2019 4:19 PM CST

Inmate tells court he fulfilled his life sentence after briefly dying

An Iowa inmate who was revived at the hospital claims his brief death means he has fulfilled the terms of his life sentence and he should be released from prison.

Nov 11, 2019 10:35 AM CST

Judge says he’d consider giving reduced sentence to rapist if he paid $150K to victim

A Louisiana judge told a convicted rapist Thursday that he would consider reducing his sentence if he paid $150,000 to the victim.

Nov 11, 2019 10:27 AM CST

Disbarred partner said he stole over $2M to cover necessities; singer James Taylor is paying victims

Singer James Taylor and his wife will contribute $1.7 million to repay money stolen by a disbarred law firm partner who was sentenced to 68 months in prison Friday.

Nov 5, 2019 11:19 AM CST

More than 450 inmates are released in this state in largest one-day commutation in US history

More than 450 inmates were released in Oklahoma on Monday as a result of a law that retroactively applies lower sentences for drug possession and low-level property crimes that voters approved in 2016.

Nov 5, 2019 9:59 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Judge tosses suit against Mueller; PTAB appointment process struck down

Judge tosses suit against Mueller U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle of Washington, D.C., has tossed a lawsuit against former special counsel Robert Mueller by Jerome Corsi, a conservative author and conspiracy theorist. Corsi claimed Mueller tried to coerce him to testify falsely that he acted as a liaison between WikiLeaks…

Nov 1, 2019 4:35 PM CDT

Federal judge’s emails lead 7th Circuit to vacate prison sentence

A federal judge who sentenced a drug defendant to more than 17 years in prison should have recused himself because his email communications with the U.S. attorney’s office “invited doubt about his impartiality,” a federal appeals court has ruled.

Oct 31, 2019 2:54 PM CDT

Woman gets 22 years in prison after showing up at her lawyer’s office with a loaded shotgun

A 78-year-old woman found guilty of raising a loaded shotgun toward her former lawyer before he wrestled it away from her has been sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Oct 28, 2019 10:22 AM CDT