First Circuit Announces It Has Authority to Raise Claim of Error Sua Sponte for Violation of ‘Mandate Rule’ by Sentenc-ing Court on Remand by Richard Resch by Richard Resch In a case of first impression, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held that it may raise sua …

Sixth Circuit: District Court Committed Procedural Error by Impermissibly Ceding Its Discretion to Congress to Determine Guidelines’ Crack-to-Powder Ratio at Sentencing by David Reutter by David M. Reutter The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held a District Court commits “procedural error by failing to appreciate the scope …

Seventh Circuit: Sentencing Court’s ‘Inoculating Statement’ Regarding Potential Guidelines Miscalculation Failed to Satisfy Conditions of Abbas by Douglas Ankney by Douglas Ankney The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit remanded to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois for resentencing where that court’s inoculating statement …

U.S. District Court Grants Compassionate Release Based Entirely on Nearly Three-Decade-Old Sentencing Error, Reduces Life Sentence by Dale Chappell by Dale Chappell Citing a sentencing error from 27 years ago, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted compassionate release to a man serving a life sentence for …

Seventh Circuit: Sentences for ‘Non-Covered’ Offenses Can Also Be Reduced Under First Step Act by Dale Chappell by Dale Chappell The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled on July 22, 2020, that when a “covered offense” under the First Step Act is reduced, a non-covered offense may …

Second Circuit: Three Important Rulings Under First Step Act by Dale Chappell by Dale Chappell The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit made three important favorable rulings on April 24, 2020, concerning relief under the First Step Act for career offenders, those who get released while their motion …

Federal District Court Finds ‘Confusion’ Over Law in State Court Excused Late Filing of § 2255 Motion by Dale Chappell by Dale Chappell Finding confusion in the state courts over the status of the law and obstacles put in place by the federal prison system that hindered filing for relief, …

Seventh Circuit Vacates Sentence for Failure to Explain Extreme Departure of Guidelines Range by Anthony Accurso by Anthony Accurso The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated a defendant’s sentence because the district court failed to explain its reasoning for a 160 percent upward departure on remand where …