August 2018 - Federal Criminal Law Center

Fourth Circuit Affirms Life Sentence

Posted by Marcia Shein
On August 24, 2018
0 Comments
Federal Appeal, Life Sentence, reconsider

Understanding Life Sentence Convictions In July of 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction of a defendant who was sentenced in 2017 to life imprisonment based on charges of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. The History of the Life Imprisonment Conviction The case arose concerning plans to […]

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Soldier’s Death Row Case

Posted by Marcia Shein
On August 20, 2018
0 Comments
death row, Federal Appeals: All Circuits And The Supreme Court, Felony Murder, military

Death Row Case Denied By Supreme Court In July of 2018, the United States Supreme Court announced that it will not hear the case of a former soldier who has received a death sentence. After the Supreme Court denied the man’s petition, the man has been left with few options to have his death sentence […]

Judge Denies Habeas Corpus Appeal

Posted by Marcia Shein
On August 13, 2018
0 Comments
Alabama Criminal Appeals, Georgia Habeas Petitions, habeas corpus

Understanding The Habeas Corpus Appeal Process A judge recently denied an appeal to vacate a sentence filed by a former federal worker who claimed that three individuals who testified against him in a case only did so because these individuals had been promised to have their jobs returned. After being convicted of several conspiracy related […]

New Jersey Federal Court Limits Constitutional Right to Bail

Posted by Marcia Shein
On August 10, 2018
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Bail, bond, Federal Appeals

Understanding Bail Laws In New Jersey In July of 2018, a federal appellate court in New Jersey ruled that criminal defendants do not have a constitutional right that guarantees the choice to pay a cash bail so that they can be released prior to a trial. This decision defies New Jersey’s recent bail reforms, which […]

Washington DC Court of Appeals Decides Insufficient Evidence Case

Posted by Marcia Shein
On August 5, 2018
0 Comments
Federal Appeals, mandatory minimums, Money Laundering

Insufficient Evidence In Appeals Case An appellate case was recently heard by the Washington DC Court of Appeals, which was initiated by two defendants who had been convicted of possession with intent to distribute heroin and a third individual who was convicted of conspiracy to launder money. This case represents an example of cases involving […]

The Fourth Amendment and the Exclusionary Rule

Posted by Marcia Shein
On August 2, 2018
0 Comments

PART I The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits unreasonable search and seizure of persons and places. Many cases in the pre-trial stage require an attack on evidence seized by the government that is protected under the Fourth Amendment. In an attempt to provide information concerning the Exclusionary Rule and Fourth Amendment questions […]

Federal Appeal Court Declines to Halt Death Row Conviction

Posted by Marcia Shein
On August 1, 2018
0 Comments
clemency, Death Penalty, death row, Federal Appeals

Federal Appeal to Death Row Conviction In July of 2018, a federal appeals court in Texas declined to slow down the execution of a prisoner who was convicted of killing a convenience store owner in 2004. Legal counsel for the defendant argued that his death row sentence should be halted because the man’s parole board […]