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Texas Appeals Court Rejects Death Row Inmate’s Appeal

On June 11, 2018
death row, Federal Appeals

Texas Death Row Inmate Denied Appeal In May of 2018, a federal appeals court rejected a claim from a death row inmate in Harris County, Texas who was convicted of killing a law enforcement officer. The man was convicted after the 1998 crime of killing the off-duty police officer during a traffic incident that was […]

Federal Criminal Appeals Involving Financial Offenses

On June 6, 2018
criminal appeals, Federal Appeals, Wire Fraud

The former owner of an accounting firm in Munster, Indiana was sentenced in May of 2018 to eight years in federal prison for bank fraud as well as other offenses, including concealment of assets during bankruptcy, false tax return, and wire fraud. The defendant has already announced plans to appeal by filing the required notice […]

Help with RICO Appeals

On May 7, 2018
Federal Appeals, racketeering, RICO

A man was recently convicted on a five-count indictment for his participation in an effort that was designed to steal from a labor union. This complicated case offers a good example of one of the many ways in which a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) case arises. Because RICO is a complicated area […]

Federal Court Hears Unique Arkansas Death Row Appeal Case

On May 6, 2018
Death Penalty, Federal Appeals

The Arkansas Supreme Court justices recently appealed a ruling that allows a judge to move forward with a lawsuit challenging the judge’s disqualification from execution cases after his participation in an anti-death penalty demonstration. The justice was disqualified last year after he was photographed lying down on a cot outside the governor’s mansion during an […]

Appeals Based on Evidence Presented to the Defense

On May 4, 2018
Federal Appeals

There are certain requirements that a prosecution team must meet in presenting a defense team with evidence. When prosecution fails to meet this standard, errors can arise that can form the basis for a strong appeal. This issue arose recently in a case from the Second Circuit. Due to prosecutorial misconduct by the Queens County […]

Improperly Admitted Evidence

On May 3, 2018
Evidence, Federal Appeals

A one-time Houston law enforcement officer is currently on death row for allegations that he hired a hitman to kill his estranged wife. Most recently, the man lost a federal appeal to overturn his conviction. The case before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals was based on the defendant’s evidence about ballistics tests on a […]

The Role of Crimes of Violence in Enhanced Federal Sentencing

On May 2, 2018
Federal Appeals, Violent Crimes

The Supreme Court recently held that the “residual clause” of 18 U.S.C. 16(b) is unconstitutionally vague and violates the due process clause. 18 USC Section 16(b) defines a “crime of violence” as an offense that involves the use of force against the person or property of another or any other offense that is a felony […]

Federal Appeals in Death Row Cases

On April 27, 2018
criminal defense attorneys, death row, Federal Appeals

A man convicted by a jury in 2008 for a murder that occurred in Texas and was sentenced to death recently asked the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to spare of his life, but the man was denied. During the man’s most recent effort to be placed off of death row, he argued that prosecutors […]

The Time to Appeal a Criminal Case

On April 23, 2018
Federal Appeals

A development occurred recently involving a defendant who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for involvement in a Salmonella outbreak that was traced to a peanut butter plant. This outbreak resulted in thousands of illnesses as well as nine deaths. Legal counsel recently petitioned the 11th Circuit for more time to […]

Competency and Federal Criminal Appeals

On April 14, 2018
competency, criminal defese, Federal Appeals

A three-judge appeal court recently upheld the dismissal of charges that a man faced after threatening an FBI agent who declared the man mentally incompetent to stand trial. The man was later released from federal custody after spending 22 months in prison. The appeal was an effort to have the incompetency ruling overturned to force […]

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