mandatory minimum sentencing statutes

Spring issue of FAMMGram now available

Douglas A. Berman
May 13, 2009 13:28

I just received via e-mail this note from the folks at FAMM detailing the contents of its latest newsletter: The FAMMGram still includes all of the latest sentencing information you expect from FAMM. Click here to thumb through the pages,...I just received via e-mail this note from the folks at...

A pair of notable and important rulings in another sad child porn downloading case

Douglas A. Berman
May 12, 2009 17:05

I just received a copy of a pair of notable (and notably brief) rulings from a federal district court here in Ohio in yet another sad child porn downloading case. The two rulings in US v. Szymanski, No. 3:08 CR...I just received a copy of a pair of notable (and notably brief) rulings from a federal...

Watching the webcast of the Senate crack disparity hearing

Douglas A. Berman
April 29, 2009 15:16

As detailed in this official notice, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs will hold a hearing at 10am this morning entitled "Restoring Fairness to Federal Sentencing: Addressing the Crack-Powder Disparity." Though I do not plan...As detailed in this official...

Two SCOTUS losses for criminal defendants

Douglas A. Berman
April 29, 2009 15:12

As detailed in this SCOTUSblog post, the Supreme Court handed down two opinions this morning and they are both losses for defendants: The Court has released the opinion in Kansas v. Ventris (07-1356) . The decision below, which held for...As detailed in this SCOTUSblog post, the Supreme Court...

Is the new DOJ about to crack the stalemate over fixing the crack disparity?

Douglas A. Berman
April 28, 2009 11:59

For many years, politicians and lawyers on both sides of the political aisle have been saying that the notorious 100-to-1 crack/powder ratio in federal sentencing statutes was unjust and should be fixed. But, especially in the legislative and executive branches,...For many years, politicians and...