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Sixth Circuit Reverses 60-Month Upward Variance Sentence Based on News Article Provided to Parties by Court at Beginning of Sentencing Hearing
by Matt Clarke
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that an Ohio federal district court erred when it doubled a defendant’s cocaine-possession sentence from the recommended 60 months to 120 months based on an online news article on the increase in drug overdose deaths in ...
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More from this issue:
- Jurors Showing More and More Savvy Toward Trial Evidence, by Edward Lyon
- News in Brief
- Minnesota Sees Rising Tide of Payouts for Epidemic of Police Misconduct, by Derek Gilna
- Government Snitches: Incentivized Witnesses Are the Leading Cause of Wrongful Convictions, by Dale Chappell
- NYPD Gang Database Lacks Transparency, Limits Due Process, by Kevin Bliss
- $175,000 Settlement to Public Protester with Profanity-laced Sign Tased by Police Officer
- Study: Racial Bias Inherent in the Jury Selection Process, by Kevin Bliss
- Agencies: Bite-mark Forensics Outdated Science, by Kevin Bliss
- Algorithm-dictated Freedom? Vet California’s New Pretrial Risk Assessment Tool, by Virginia Griese
- San Francisco DA Candidate Chesa Boudin Puts Criminal Justice Reform Front and Center
- New California Laws Peel Back Secrecy Surrounding Police Discipline Amid Pushback, by Betty Nelander
- Facebook Tells Law Enforcement to Quit Using Phony Accounts, by Dale Chappell
- ‘Ban the Box’ Movement Expands in New Direction, by Edward Lyon
- Forensic Entomology Helps Nevada Murder Convictee Get Exonerated After 17 Years in Prison, by Edward Lyon
- Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal: Thousands More Cases Likely Affected, by Kevin Bliss
- NY Election Websites Tell Parolees They Can’t Vote, Even Though They Can, by Dale Chappell
- Police Use of ‘Undercover Friending’ Investigative Technique Unregulated, by Kevin Bliss
- Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Applicable Standard for Mandatory Testing Under DNA Testing Act, Reverses District Court for Applying Wrong Standard, by Chad Marks
- Hawaii Supreme Court Finally Complies with SCOTUS’ Apprendi Decision, Vacates Enhanced Sentence Based on Fact Determined by Judge, Not Jury, by Christopher Zoukis
- Sexual Assaults and Harassment by Members of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Costing Taxpayers Millions, by Edward Lyon
- Sixth Circuit Vacates a Witness Tampering Conviction, Principally on the Ground that the District Court Erroneously Instructed the Jury on the Intent Element of Witness Tampering, by Punch & Jurists
- Bronx Prosecutors Trained to Manipulate System to Delay Trials, by Matthew Clarke
- Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rosenstein Defends Junk Science Forensics, by Matthew Clarke
- SCOTUS Clarifies Scope of Generic Burglary Under the ACCA, by Richard Resch
- Report: Wisconsin Crime Labs Face Multitude of Problems, by Edward Lyon
- Custodial Interrogation Must Cease When Suspect Unambiguously Invokes Right to Remain Silent, Says Fourth Circuit, by Douglas Ankney
- Fifth Circuit: Introduction of Deposition Video Without Making Good-Faith Effort to Secure Witnesses’ Presence at Trial Violates Confrontation Clause, by Douglas Ankney
- Oklahoma Supreme Court Announces Drug Court Dismissal of Charges After Successful Completion of Drug Program Entitles Defendant to Immediate Expungement, by Douglas Ankney
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Clarifies Proper Evidentiary Standard and Type of Evidence for Informal Competency Hearing, by Christopher Zoukis
- Third Circuit Orders Habeas Relief Based on Trial Counsel’s Failure to Present or Even Investigate Mental Health and Juvenile Records in Pennsylvania Death Penalty Case, by Matthew Clarke
- Third Circuit: Summons Is Not an Arrest for USSG Criminal History Calculation, by Mark Wilson
- Sixth Circuit Reverses 60-Month Upward Variance Sentence Based on News Article Provided to Parties by Court at Beginning of Sentencing Hearing, by Matthew Clarke
- Ninth Circuit Announces Expert Testimony on Battered Woman Syndrome Not Categorically Excludable, Relevant to Duress Defense, by Richard Resch
- Fifth Circuit Holds Special Conditions in PSR Appendix but Not Orally Pronounced by District Court Must Be Removed From Sentence Where Conflict With Written Judgment, by David Reutter
- SCOTUS: Florida’s Robbery Statute Satisfies Physical Force Requirement of Armed Career Criminal Act, by Douglas Ankney
- Idaho Supreme Court: Temporary and Isolated Crossing of the ‘Fog Line’ Not Enough to Support a Traffic Stop, by Christopher Zoukis
- Louisiana Supreme Court Vacates Conviction for Batson Violation, by Christopher Zoukis
- First Circuit Announces No Joint Participation Exception to Spousal Testimonial Privilege, by Matthew Clarke
- Minnesota Supreme Court Holds Sentencing Guidelines at Time of Offense, Not Time of Sentencing, Controls for Purposes of Calculating Criminal History Score, by Matthew Clarke
- Eighth Circuit Rules Search Warrant Based on Affidavit That Failed to Link Target to Criminal Activity Lacked Probable Cause, Not Saved by Good-Faith Exception, by David Reutter
- Seventh Circuit Reverses Denial of a Certificate of Innocence Needed as a Prerequisite for Damages for an Unjust Conviction and Imprisonment, by Punch & Jurists
- California Court of Appeal: Using Criminal Process to Collect Fines That Indigent Defendants Cannot Pay Is Unconstitutional, by Douglas Ankney
- Ninth Circuit Announces SCOTUS’ Rodriguez Opinion Requires Overturning ‘Reasonableness Standard’ Precedent in Traffic Stop Prolongation Cases, by Richard Resch
- U.S. Government Lab Withheld Groundbreaking Study for 5 Years That Can Help Defendants Question the Reliability of Certain DNA Evidence, by Steve Horn
- Cops Are At War Out There, by Jacobin, Brian Platt
- New York Mass Bail Out Action Targets Bail System Manipulation, by Virginia Griese
- From the Editor, by Richard Resch
More from Matthew Clarke:
- Multitudes Caged for Failure to Pay Child Support, Driving Mass Incarceration, May 1, 2025
- Federal Watchdog Calls Out BOP for Spiking Suicide Risk at Pennsylvania Lockup, April 1, 2025
- Eighth Circuit: Arkansas Prisoner Who Had Consensual Sex With Guard Cannot Sustain Eighth Amendment Claim, April 1, 2025
- “Happy Mother’s Day”: $1,353,000 Settlement Approved for Migrant Parents Separated from Minor Kids at Border, March 1, 2025
- DOJ Finds “Horrific and Inhumane” Conditions in Georgia Prisons, March 1, 2025
- Sixth Circuit Upholds $6.4 Million Jury Award Against Corizon Nurses For Michigan Jail Prisoner’s Fatal Alcohol Withdrawal, March 1, 2025
- En Banc Fifth Circuit Reverses Panel, Holds Mississippi Felon Disenfranchisement Does Not Violate Eighth Amendment, March 1, 2025
- USDC (D. Oregon), Case No. 6:22-cv-00451, Feb. 15, 2025
- Legal Gaffe Prolongs Case of Former St. Louis Detainee Held Eight Months After Dismissal of Charges, Feb. 15, 2025
- Among World Nations, Individual U.S. States Near Top of List for Per Capita Incarceration, Feb. 15, 2025
More from these topics:
- Warden, Top Deputy Walked Off the Job at “Wild West” Missouri Prison, March 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, War on Drugs, Rural Prisons.
- Study Reveals Best DNA Recovery Spots on Drug Baggies, Feb. 15, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples, War on Drugs, DNA Evidence/Testing.
- 50 Years After Starting “Scared Straight,” Former N.J. Prison Warden “Would Do It Again”, Nov. 15, 2024. War on Drugs, Juveniles, Education (Juveniles).
- Alabama Guard, Prisoners Among 13 Sentenced in Phone Scam and Drug-Smuggling Ring, Nov. 15, 2024. Guard Misconduct, Cell Searches, War on Drugs, Searches - Cellphones/Computers/Internet.
- Three Former Rikers Island Guards Among Five Ex-Employees Charged in Massive Smuggling Scheme, Oct. 15, 2024. Guard Misconduct, War on Drugs, Searches - Cellphones/Computers/Internet.
- Alabama Warden and Wife Busted for Making “Magic” Mushrooms, Oct. 15, 2024. Police Misconduct, War on Drugs.
- Landmark Drug Possession Reform Based on Unproven Allegations Reversed in Oregon, June 15, 2024. Criminal justice system reform, War on Drugs, State Law Claims.
- Wisconsin Supreme Court: Jail Time Must Be Credited When Charge Causing Jailing Read in At Sentencing, Jan. 1, 2024. Sentencing, Good Time, Sentences - Corrections or Modifications of, Credits.
- Wife of “El Chapo” Released from U.S. Prison, Son Extradited, Dec. 1, 2023. War on Drugs.
- Prison Walls No Barrier to America’s Deadly Opioid Crisis, Nov. 15, 2023. War on Drugs, Drug Treatment/Rehab.