U.S. Sentencing Commission Votes Unanimously to Restrict Use of Acquitted Conduct at Sentencing by Sam Rutherford by Sam Rutherford   On April 17, 2024, the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted unanimously to limit consideration of conduct for which a person was acquitted in federal court from being used in calculating the …

First Circuit: Procedurally Unreasonable for District Court to Base Upward Variance on Defendant’s Prior Arrests by Douglas Ankney by Douglas Ankney The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit vacated, on the basis of procedural reasonableness, the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico’s sentence imposed upon …

Acquitted Conduct Sentencing by Douglas Ankney How Judges Enhance Sentences by Supplanting ‘Not Guilty’ Verdicts with Private Findings that Defendants ‘Probably Committed’ Acquitted Offenses by Douglas Ankney Gregory Bell was indicted on 13 charges. He exercised his right to a jury trial. The jury acquitted Bell of 10 charges and …

Kettles Are Used for Teas, Kettling is Used for People by Edward Lyon by Ed Lyon There’s a new tool around for the old sheriff in town when it comes to dealing with peaceful protesters. This tool is called kettling, and it has nothing to do with heating water for …

How to Clear Your Record of Marijuana Charges in Illinois by Dale Chappell by Dale Chappell While Illinois has legalized recreational marijuana and pardoned more than 11,000 people with marijuana cases, removing marijuana charges and convictions from your record may require more leg work from some who don’t qualify under …