First Circuit Holds Government Breached Plea Agreement by Implicitly Arguing for Upward Variant Sentence by Including Pictures and Video of Defendant That Allegedly Depict His Criminal Tendencies in Sentencing Memo by Sam Rutherford by Sam Rutherford The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held that the Government implicitly …

Prosecutors in These States Can Review Sentences They Deem Extreme. Few Do. by Charlie Lee, Matt Nadel Five states now allow prosecutors to seek shorter sentences in old cases. Louisiana shows why many DAs haven’t. by Matt Nadel and Charlie Lee It had been a long day of mowing brush …

Sixth Circuit: Courts May Consider Nonretroactive Change in Law as One of Several Factors for Extraordinary and Compelling Circumstances for Compassionate Release by Matthew Clarke by Matt Clarke The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio erred …

Seventh Circuit: Unsupported CI Statements Insufficient to Justify Higher Drug Quantity for Sentencing by Dale Chappell by Dale Chappell The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held on January 28, 2020, that the unsupported statements by confidential informants (“CI”) about drug amounts and transactions outside the direct criminal …