Blogs
Elonis v. United States -- Convictions Under 18 U.S.C. Section 875(c)
On June 1, 2015, the Supreme Court, in the case Elonis v. United States, Case No. 13-983, held the Third Circuit’s instruction, requiring only negligence with respect to the communication of a threat, is not sufficient to support a conviction under 18 U.S.C. Section 875(c).
2015 Federal Criminal Practice Seminar
SAVE THE DATE! Federal Criminal Practice Seminar August 21, 2015
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Conference Center
One Cleveland Center - 1375 E. 9th Street, 2nd Floor
Cleveland, OH 44114
Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8am, program begins at 8:30am and runs through 5:00pm, 6.5 hours of general CLE.
Office of the Inspector General Report on BOP Problems with Aging Population.
In a report entitled “The Impact of an Aging Inmate Population on the Federal Bureau of Prisons” released May 6, 2015, the Office of the Inspector General brings to light the impact of the care and expenses of the fastest growing population of 50 and older inmates in the BOP.
Rodriguez v. United States--Fourth Amendment Right to Unreasonable Seizures
On April 21, 2015, in the case of Rodriguez v. United States, the Supreme Court held that police officers cannot prolong a traffic stop to conduct a dog-sniffing drug search.
Holt v. Hobbs - Muslim Prisoners' Right to Wear a Beard
On January 20, 2015, in the case of Holt v. Hobbs, the Supreme Court in a unanimous opinion written by Justice Alito struck down an Arkansas prison practice that prevented a prisoner of the Muslim faith to wear a beard. The Court’s opinion was based in part on its analysis of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. To view more of the Supreme Court's opinions, go to Law - Case Law - US Supreme Court in our navigation bar above.
Free 2 Hour CLE Seminar -- Dr. Robert L. Smith, Understanding Addiction and Substance Abuse
Dr. Robert L. Smith, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine and the MetroHealth System, will give a 2 hour presentation regarding "Understanding Addiction and Substance Abuse (so that you can better represent your client and better understand your client's plight)." It will be held on November 17, 2014, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (registration is from 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.) at the Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse, Auditorium, 7th Floor, 801 W. Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio and will be streamed live at the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Toledo, Ohio.
FAQ Regarding Retroactive Application of the 2014 Drug Guidelines Amendment
For inmates and their families, please see the frequently asked questions and answers from the US Sentencing Commission regarding the Retroactive Application of the 2014 Drug Guidelines Amendment which takes effect on November 1, 2014.
Frequently Asked Questions: Retroactive Application of the 2014 Drug Guidelines Amendment
The Department of Justice - Bulletin Regarding Prison Population
After consecutive years of declining numbers, the Department of Justice's Prisoners in 2013 bulletin shows the number of people in both state and federal prisons has increased. This is the first increase since 2009. The prison population last year was 1,574,700 which is an increase of 4,300 over the previous year. The bulletin suggest that more changes are needed in sentencing practices to help reduce the prison populations. To read the full report, click here.
2014 Federal Criminal Practice Seminar
The Federal Criminal Practice Seminar is scheduled for August 22, 2014. Please note the new location--Cleveland Convention Center, 1 St. Clair Ave., NE, Cleveland, OH 44114. Registration deadline is August 15, 2014. For more information please go to Training/Events in our navigation bar above and select Local Events and Seminars. Federal Criminal Practice Seminar Brochure
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