http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/justice-souters-class/?hp

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/hank-skinner-minute-stay-execution-supreme-court-texas/story?id=10200157

How many years is enough years?

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/24/1544882/fraudster-appeals-whopping-845.html#ixzz0j6zGRD5T

Late last week I had a sentencing in front of the Honorable Beverly Martin. The Presentence Report recommended 235 months in prison because my client had a criminal history category IV. However, I filed objections asking for a minor role. The Honorable Court agreed with the role reduction. Because there is a fairly new graduated role reduction, under 2D1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines, my client's base offense level went from a level 38 to a level 34 and then another two levels off for a minor role. With acceptance of responsibility, my client ended up with a sentence of 121 months in prison. Although this is still a long time, I was able to cut his sentence in half by convincing the court of the role reduction. It is always important for attorneys to file the right objections to both the facts in the presentence report and to the conclusions drawn by the probation officer. It seems lately that a lot of the probation officers do not like to recommend a role reduction, and quite frankly, they usually look for ways to increase the defendant's sentence. Unfortunately, Judge Martin has been elevated to the 11th Circuit bench. While she is a wonderful addition to the circuit, it is a great loss to the district court. We can only hope that she can impress upon her new colleagues her sense of fairness and pragmatism.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/22/us/AP-FBN-Ingram-Fugitive.html?_r=1

A New York federal judge on Friday scuttled a proposed settlement of lawsuits filed by more than 10,000 Ground Zero workers seeking compensation for health problems triggered by their exposure to ash and dust spewed into the air after the 9/11 terror attacks. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who has presided over the often bitter litigation for eight years, ordered the parties to renegotiate a deal, complaining that it provided too much money for attorneys and insufficient information for plaintiffs.

Fresh out of prison, disgraced securities plaintiffs attorney Bill Lerach has returned to the public light. On April 12, Lerach is scheduled to speak at a University of San Diego School of Law panel titled "Where is Corporate and Securities Litigation Headed Post-Crisis?" Lerach was released from a two-year prison term on March 8. Law professor Frank Partnoy, the director of the school's Center for Corporate and Securities Law, said he anticipated that Lerach's criminal past would come up in discussion at the event.

I spent the morning in Fulton County State and Superior Courts. Worked out a reduction on a DUI case, and I am now back at the office preparing for a jury trial. At 5:00 p.m., I am hosting a fundraiser for Sam Olens for Attorney General at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Please check back often for new announcements, information and articles of interest for criminal defense services.