sentencing guidelines
Federal Felony Sentencing – Virginia Criminal Lawyer’s Warning
Federal felony sentencing often is harsh, unless the prosecution requests leniency as part of plea negotiations, with that leniency request ordinarily connected to snitching/cooperation. As a Virginia criminal lawyer defending in state and federal court, I know that many federal felony convictions involve substantial mandatory...
Federal criminal defense – Trump’s attorney general goes full throttle for the highest sentencing ranges
It came as no surprise -- but disappointing nonetheless -- when this week Sessions reversed course on the Obama administration's efforts to reduce efforts to seek the maximum possible sentencing ranges against non-violent drug dealers. This week's memorandum (text here) on the topic from Sessions...
SCOTUS bars Due Process vagueness challenges to voluntary sentencing guidelines
On March 5, 2017, I blogged about the importance of challenging criminal laws for vagueness and overbreadth. The very next day, the United States Supreme Court confirmed the overbreadth doctrine as it applies to statutes, but said that Due Process vagueness challenges do not apply...