Search | Punch and Jurists

U.S. v. Word, No. 95-8288 (11th Cir.) (129 F.3d 1209) (November 21, 1997) (Judge James Larry Edmondson)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

U.S. v. Word, No. 95-8288 (11th Cir.) (129 F.3d 1209) (November 21, 1997) (Judge James Larry Edmondson) by This is an interesting case which suggests that the "Battered Woman's Syndrome" defense is beginning to be accepted more and more as a viable defense in many Federal cases. Here, the defendant …

U.S. v. Higgins, No. 97-5006 (3rd Cir.) (128 F.3d 138) (October 17, 1997) (Judge Jane R. Roth)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Concurrent and Consecutive Sentences

U.S. v. Higgins, No. 97-5006 (3rd Cir.) (128 F.3d 138) (October 17, 1997) (Judge Jane R. Roth) by In U.S. v. Nottingham, 898 F.2d 390 (3rd Cir. 1990), the Third Circuit held that a previous version of Section 5G1.3(c) was invalid because that section, which mandated consecutive sentences, conflicted with …

U.S. v. Blackwell, No. 96-8110 (10th Cir.) (127 F.3d 947) (October 14, 1997) (Judge Wade Brorby)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

U.S. v. Blackwell, No. 96-8110 (10th Cir.) (127 F.3d 947) (October 14, 1997) (Judge Wade Brorby) by QUOTE OF THE WEEK - Sentences that can't be explained, justified or defended! "[T]he fundamental problem with the guidelines is not their attempt to guide judicial discretion or their severity, but their utopian …

Plyler v. Moore, No. 96-7689 (4th Cir.) (129 F.3d 728) (October 16, 1997) (Judge William W. Jr. Wilkins)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Rooker-Feldman Doctrine

Plyler v. Moore, No. 96-7689 (4th Cir.) (129 F.3d 728) (October 16, 1997) (Judge William W. Jr. Wilkins) by Case is noted for its discussion of the Rooker-Feldman doctine which holds that lower Federal courts generally do not have jurisdiction to review state court decisions. Case is moted for its …

U.S. v. Tenzer, No. 96-1653 (2nd Cir.) (127 F.3d 222) (September 19, 1997) (Judge Roger J. Miner)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Tax Prosecutions

U.S. v. Tenzer, No. 96-1653 (2nd Cir.) (127 F.3d 222) (September 19, 1997) (Judge Roger J. Miner) by Here the Court held that one of the key components of the Voluntary Disclosure Policy was the requirement that the taxpayer make bona fide arrangements to pay his tax liability - and …

U.S. v. Winchell, No. 96-1513 (10th Cir.) (129 F.3d 1093) (November 3, 1997) (Judge Stephen H. Anderson)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Loss - Calculation/Determination of

U.S. v. Winchell, No. 96-1513 (10th Cir.) (129 F.3d 1093) (November 3, 1997) (Judge Stephen H. Anderson) by

Wagner v. Hanks, No. 95-3108 (7th Cir.) (128 F.3d 1173) (November 10, 1997) (Judge Richard A. Posner)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

Wagner v. Hanks, No. 95-3108 (7th Cir.) (128 F.3d 1173) (November 10, 1997) (Judge Richard A. Posner) by Case held that for purposes of determining whether a prisoner suffered atypical and significant hardships, the claim must be evaluated by comparing conditions with the State's entire prison system, not just the …

Lyon v. Krol, No. 96-3752 (8th Cir.) (127 F.3d 763) (October 17, 1997) (Judge Diana E. Murphy)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Three Strikes Statutes/Rule

Lyon v. Krol, No. 96-3752 (8th Cir.) (127 F.3d 763) (October 17, 1997) (Judge Diana E. Murphy) by Case reversed lower court holding that three strikes provision of the Prison Litigation Reform Act unconstitutionally violated prisoners' equal protection rights.

U.S. v. Hunt, No. 96-50639 (5th Cir.) (129 F.3d 739) (November 17, 1997) (Judge Emilio M. Garza)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Sentences - Authority to Modify

U.S. v. Hunt, No. 96-50639 (5th Cir.) (129 F.3d 739) (November 17, 1997) (Judge Emilio M. Garza) by This is an interesting drug case in which the Fifth Circuit first vacated a drug conviction for possession with intent to distribute because the Government had failed to prove anything but simple …

U.S. v. Moore, No. 97-1351 (8th Cir.) (129 F.3d 989) (December 16, 1997) (Judge Donald R. Ross)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Stipulations

U.S. v. Moore, No. 97-1351 (8th Cir.) (129 F.3d 989) (December 16, 1997) (Judge Donald R. Ross) by Court held that Supreme Court's decision in Old Chief v. U.S. did not compel reversal of conviction where court concludes that error resulted only in harmless error. Last year, the Supreme Court …

U.S. v. Hoffer, No. 96-4354 (11th Cir.) (129 F.3d 1196) (November 21, 1997) (Judge Edward E. Carnes)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Loss of employment

U.S. v. Hoffer, No. 96-4354 (11th Cir.) (129 F.3d 1196) (November 21, 1997) (Judge Edward E. Carnes) by Case held that the loss of the privilege to practice medicine cannot constitute a valid basis for a downward departure. Citing the Ninth Circuit's decision in U.S. v. Aguilar, 994 F.2d 609 …

U.S. v. Otis, No. 93-50649 (9th Cir.) (127 F.3d 829) (October 7, 1997) (Per Curiam)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

U.S. v. Otis, No. 93-50649 (9th Cir.) (127 F.3d 829) (October 7, 1997) (Per Curiam) by Case reversed convictions of a defendant due to lower court's failure to instruct jury on defense of duress. This is one of those huge money laundering cases involving the Cali cartel in which numerous …

U.S. v. Sobrilski, No. 96-3970 (8th Cir.) (127 F.3d 669) (October 9, 1997) (Judge Daniel M. Friedman)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

U.S. v. Sobrilski, No. 96-3970 (8th Cir.) (127 F.3d 669) (October 9, 1997) (Judge Daniel M. Friedman) by United States v. Sobrilski, 127 F.3d 669 (8th Cir. 1997) (Judge Friedman) United States v. Hankins, 127 F.3d 932 (10th Cir. 1997) (Judge Kelly) These cases are noted because they explore the …

U.S. v. Davis, No. 96-3024 (D.C. Cir.) (127 F.3d 68) (October 17, 1997) (Judge Merrick B. Garland)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

U.S. v. Davis, No. 96-3024 (D.C. Cir.) (127 F.3d 68) (October 17, 1997) (Judge Merrick B. Garland) by United States v. Cropp, 127 F.3d 354 (4th Cir. 1997) (Judge Earvin) United States v. Cruz, 127 F.3d 791 (9th Cir. 1997) (Judge Tashima) Among the many cases this week that discussed …

Barry v. Bergen County Probation Office, No. 96-5577 (3rd Cir.) (128 F.3d 152) (October 22, 1997) (Judge Robert E. Cowen)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

Barry v. Bergen County Probation Office, No. 96-5577 (3rd Cir.) (128 F.3d 152) (October 22, 1997) (Judge Robert E. Cowen) by As a matter of first impression, the Court held that community service qualifies for the "in custody" jurisdictional basis for habeas corpus actions.

U.S. v. Smith, No. 95-8120 (11th Cir.) (127 F.3d 987) (October 31, 1997) (Judge Joel F. Dubina)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Legal or Factual Challenges - assertion of

U.S. v. Smith, No. 95-8120 (11th Cir.) (127 F.3d 987) (October 31, 1997) (Judge Joel F. Dubina) by This is one of those shameful decisions that shows how an intemperate Court can create bad law - here the birth of a new, subjective standard by which the availability of the …

U.S. v. Wilson, No. 97-1772 (7th Cir.) (129 F.3d 949) (November 19, 1997) (Judge Frank H. Easterbrook)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

U.S. v. Wilson, No. 97-1772 (7th Cir.) (129 F.3d 949) (November 19, 1997) (Judge Frank H. Easterbrook) by Here the Court reversed a lower court determination to grant downward departure on basis that defendant was entrapped into purchasing crack cocaine - holding that the Seventh Circuit does not recognize the …

U.S. v. Sobrilski, No. 96-3970 (8th Cir.) (127 F.3d 669) (October 9, 1997) (Judge Daniel M. Friedman)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

U.S. v. Sobrilski, No. 96-3970 (8th Cir.) (127 F.3d 669) (October 9, 1997) (Judge Daniel M. Friedman) by Court held that while legal impossibility is normally a valid defense to an attempt crime, factual impossibility is not.

U.S. v. Blackwell, No. 96-8110 (10th Cir.) (127 F.3d 947) (October 14, 1997) (Judge Wade Brorby)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists, Sentencing Disparity

U.S. v. Blackwell, No. 96-8110 (10th Cir.) (127 F.3d 947) (October 14, 1997) (Judge Wade Brorby) by United States v. Meza, 127 F.3d 545 (7th Cir. 1997) United States v. Wong, 127 F.3d 725 (8th Cir. 1997) United States v. Blackwell, 127 F.3d 947 (10th Cir. 1997) One of the …

U.S. v. Washman, No. 96-10050 (9th Cir.) (128 F.3d 1305) (October 24, 1997) (Judge Donald W. Molloy)

Article • December 1, 1997 • from P&J December, 1997

Filed under: Punch And Jurists

U.S. v. Washman, No. 96-10050 (9th Cir.) (128 F.3d 1305) (October 24, 1997) (Judge Donald W. Molloy) by United States v. Weekly, 128 F.3d 1198 (8th Cir. 1997) (Per Curiam) United States v. Washman, 128 F.3d 1305 (9th Cir. 1997) (Judge Molloy) In 1994, Congress enacted the so-called "safety valve" …