Federal Defenders Western North Carolina

 

Justicia Omnibus

Brief Bank - Appeals S-Z

Disclaimer: The below materials were collected in order to aid you in creating and writing motions. Be advised that many of the motions were computer-scanned and, therefore, may have errors in formatting and text. These errors did not appear in the original documents and should in no way reflect upon the contributors. Also, this collection contains motions from a variety of jurisdictions; hence, many documents may contain case law not applicable to your circuit. Furthermore, each document may not meet the requirements of the local rules in your district. Finally, we do not guarantee the research, legal authority, or quotes included in this collection of motions. Please be sure to check each cite and quote for accuracy, as well as, to Shepardize all authorities.

Manipulation
-U.S. v. Walls (panel attorney)

Multiple sentences, D.C. & Fed. Offenses
-U.S. v. Cunningham (panel attorneys)
-U.S. v. McLaughlin (BD); Opinion

Multiple problems & conditions
-U.S. v. Sheldon (2nd Circuit)

Resentencing, scope of/failure to comply with remand/jurisdiction
-U.S. v. Cabrera-Baez (AB)
-U.S. v. Edmonds (EN) (amicus)
-U.S. v. Harrison (RP)
-U.S. v. Shepherd (AJ) - Remanded 2/19/98 by unpub. judgment
-U.S. v. Whren (LW) - Affirmed 5/6/97 by Opin.

Reweighing drugs
-U.S. v. Small (LB) Opinion & Reply Brief & Order

-U.S. v. Kevin Williams (BD)

SENTENCING GUIDELINES

Abuse of trust
-U.S. v. Becraft (AS)
-U.S. v. Miller (AB)
-U.S. v. Jeffrey Robinson (EN)
-U.S. v. Smaw (JH)

Acceptance of responsibility

-U.S. v. Adesioye (EN)
-U.S. v. Arias (NJ)
-U.S. v. Campbell (RP) Cert. Petition
-U.S. v. Cutchin (AJ)
-U.S. v. deMesones (LW)
-U.S. v. DeWalt (CH) 8/20/96 opin. vacated & remanded grounds)
-U.S. v. Henderson (EN)
-U.S. v. Hicks (GS)
-U.S. v. Lee (TM)
-U.S. v. McClean (AJ) (pet. for cert.)
-U.S. v. (Evangeline) Miller (GS)
-U.S. v. Mingo (AB)
-U.S. v. Murphy (PB)
-U.S. v. Reid (JH)
-U.S. v. Scales (GS)
-U.S. v. Thomas (SS)
-U.S. v. Williams (TA) (affirmed 6/21/96 opin.)

Base offense level
-U.S. v. Conyers (SS)
-U.S. v. (William) Hill (EN) Opin. 12/23/97 - reversed & remanded
-U.S. v. Sobin (AB)
-U.S. v. Warren (AJ)
-U.S. v. Washington (SS) 6/6/97 Opin - Affirmed

Career offender
-U.S. v. Price (PM & BB)
-U.S. v. (David) Smith (AS/NJ)
Reversed & Remanded for new trial
-U.S. v. Thompson (panel atty)

Concurrent/consecutive sentences
-U.S. v. DeWalt (CH) 8/20/96 opin. vacated & remanded
-U.S. v. Hilliard (AB)

Crack provisions/constitutionality
-U.S. v. Edmonds (EN) (amicus)
-U.S. v. D. Thomas (AJ/TH)
-U.S. v. K. Thomas (AJ/TH)
-U.S. v. Thompson (panel atty)
-U.S. v. Warren (AJ)

Criminal history
-U.S. v. Goodall (MP)
-U.S. v. Johnson (LK)
-U.S. v. Lee (TM)
-U.S. v. (Evangeline) Miller (GS)
-U.S. v. Ruffin (JH)
-U.S. v. Sobin (AB)

Departures, Downward

Abuse in prison

Addicts
-U.S. v. Webb (EN) (remanded for resentencing 2/3/98)
(note: Webb is appellee)

Aliens
-U.S. v. Cabrera-Baez (AB)
-U.S. v. Cruz (CH)
-U.S. v. Leandre (CH) (Opin. 1/13/98 - affirmed)
-U.S. v. Stewart (LW) Opinion

Crack/powder disparity
-U.S. v. Anderson (VR)
-U.S. v. Cabrera-Baez (AB)
-U.S. v. Hogan (CH) (affirmed 2/15/96, unpublished)
-U.S. v. Smart (VR)
-U.S. v. Warren (AJ)
-U.S. v. Washington (SS) 6/6/97 Opin. - Affirmed
-U.S. v. Wright (TA)

Criminal history over-represented
-U.S. v. Clark (MW)

Denial of, mistaken lack of authority
-U.S. v. Boyd (LB) Opinion
-U.S. v. Brandon (LK)
-U.S. v. Lanham (NJ)
reply brief
-U.S. v. Taylor (AB)
-U.S. v. Vizcaino (LW) Opinion

Diminished capacity

-U.S. v. Chatman (NJ)
-U.S. v. Dortch (SS)
-U.S. v. Greenfield (NJ)
-U.S. v. Hogan (AJ/CH) (affirmed 2/15/96 unpublished)
-U.S. v. Leandre (CH) (Opin. 1/13/98 affirmed)
-U.S. v. Moore (RP)
-U.S. v. Perkins (AJ)
-U.S. v. White (CH) (Opin. Aff. 12/15/95)
-U.S. v. Wilson (RP)

Disparities among defendants
-U.S. v. Williams (MW)

D. C. prosecutor's discretion
-U.S. v. Clark (MW)

Drug quantity calculation
-U.S. v. Dingle (NJ)
Opinion
-U.S. v. Warren (AJ)

Failure to consider grounds
-U.S. v. Hogan (AJ/CH) (affirmed 2/15/96 unpublished)

Family circumstances
-U.S. v. Evans (NJ)
-U.S. v. Leandre (CH) (Opin. 1/13/98 - affirmed)

Government delay
-U.S. v. Lancaster (RT)

Imperfect entrapment
-U.S. v. Adamson (private attorney)

Lack of youthful guidance
-U.S. v. Brandon (LK)
-U.S. v. Clark (MW)
-U.S. v. Pinnick (LK)

Low purity of drugs
-U.S. v. Mitchell (AB)

Mules
-U.S. v. James (PM)

Post-conviction rehabilitation
-U.S. v. (Marcos) Anderson (RP)
-U.S. v. Johnson (LW) Opinion

Racial disparity
-U.S. v. Thompson (panel atty)
-U.S. v. White (CH) (Opin. Aff. 12/15/95)

Reduced culpability
-
U.S. v. Reed (BD) - 2/23/98,Unpub. judgment, affirmed Reply Brief

Simple possession of crack
-U.S. v. Michael (BB & MW)

Spousal abuse
-U.S. v. Sammoury (TA) (Opin. Aff. 2/6/96)

Substantial assistance
-U.S. v. Dawson (AJ)
-U.S. v. Hernandez (CH) (FPD staff only) (3/29/96 Opin. affirmed)
-U.S. v. Jones (RP)
-U.S. v. Sparks (AB)

Vulnerability

-U.S. v. Reed (BD) - 2/23/98,Unpub. judgment, affirmed Reply Brief

Waivers, validity of

Departures, Upward

Continuing criminal enterprise, Sanctioning violence
-U.S. v. (Marcos) Anderson (RP)

Criminal history
-U.S. v. Johnson (AJ)

Disruption of governmental function
-U.S. v. Houser (AJ)

Drugs into prison
-U.S. v. Wright (TA)

Double counting
-U.S. v. Bapack (EN) (Opin. 12/5/97 - affirmed)
-U.S. v. McLaughlin (BD);  Opinion

Ex post facto/effective date
-U.S. v. (Clyde) Hill (SR) (11/24/97 aff. unpub. judgment)
-U.S. v. Milton (GS) (amicus)

Express threat of death
-U.S. v. Robinson (TA/FP) (affirmed 6/21/96 opin)
-U.S. v. Milton (GS) (amicus)

Factual disputes/standard of proof
-U.S. v. Burney (SS) (affirmed, unpub.judgment 4/4/96) (
Reply Brief )
-Lam Kwong-Hah v. U.S. (AJ) (pet. for cert.)
-U.S. v. Todd (BD)

Firearms enhancement
-U.S. v. Thomas (SS)
-U.S. v. (Kevin) Washington (SR)
-U.S. v. (Antoine) Wilson (BD)

Firearms/in connection with other offense
-U.S. v. Burney (SS) (affirmed 4/4/96, unpublished judgment)(
Reply Brief )

Fraud/Loss calculation
-U.S. v. (Joann) McCoy (LW) Opinion & Opinon
-U.S. v. Jeffrey Robinson (EN)
-U.S. v. Studevent (BB)
-U.S. v. Tilghman (LW) (reversed & remanded 2/3/98 on other grounds)

Grouping of counts
-U.S. v. Lancaster (RT)
-U.S. v. (Joann) McCoy (LW) Opinion & Opinon


Juvenile adjudications, consideration of
-U.S. v. Johnson (LK)

Manager/Organizer
-U.S. v. Bapack (EN) (Opin. 12/5/97 - affirmed)
-U.S. v. (Joann) McCoy (LW) Opinion & Opinon
-U.S. v. Scales (GS)
-U.S. v. Smyth (private attorney)
-U.S. v. (Antone) White (NJ) (Opin. 6/27/97 - Affirmed)


Minimal/minor participant
-U.S. v. Reed (BD) - 2/23/98,Unpub. judgment, affirmed Reply Brief
-U.S. v. Spriggs (private attorney)

More than minimal planning
-U.S. v. (Joann) McCoy (LW) Opinion & Opinon

NCIC report, reliance on
-U.S. v. (Terrell) Thompson (BD)


Obstruction of justice
-U.S. v. Kirkland (NJ) (1/24/97 opin - affirmed)
-U.S. v. Lee (TM)
-U.S. v. (Joann) McCoy (LW) Opinion & Opinon

-U.S. v. Mingo (AB)
-U.S. v. Sobin (AB)
-U.S. v. Taylor (AB)
-U.S. v. Villagarcia (VR)

Policy statement/guideline dichotomy


Prior felony convictions under § 2K2.1
-U.S. v. Brice (EN)

Probation officer consultation
-U.S. v. DeWalt (CH) 8/20/96 opin. vacated & remanded

Relevant conduct
-U.S. v. Breedlove (LW)
Opinion & Order & Opinion
-U.S. v. Cabrera-Baez (AB)
-U.S. v. Clarke (AJ)
-U.S. v. Cooper (NJ)
-U.S. v. Copelin (RT)
-U.S. v. DeLeon (AB)
-U.S. v. Hicks (GS)
-U.S. v. Hunt (AB)
-U.S. v. Lancaster (RT)
-U.S. v. Pinnick (LK)
-U.S. v. Scales (GS)
-U.S. v. Spriggs (AB)
-U.S. v. (Ellis) Williams (GP) Reply Brief & Opinion


Restitution
-U.S. v. Bapack (EN) (opin. 12/5/97 - affirmed)
-U.S. v. Rezaq (RT) 2/6/98 opin. - affirmed
-U.S. v. Jeffrey Robinson (EN)
-U.S. v. Wolff (JB)

Retroactive application
-U.S. v. Clipper (LW) (5/8/98 - unpub. judgment - affirmed)

Role in offense
-U.S. v. Akintomide (NJ)
-U.S. v. (Marcos) Anderson (RP)
-U.S. v. Clarke (AJ)
-U.S. v. Conyers (SS)
-U.S. v. Dortch (SS)
-U.S. v. (Derrick) Hill (EN) (6/19/97 affirmed, unpub. judgment)
-U.S. v. Salamanca (AJ)
-U.S. v. Taylor (AB)

"Safety Valve" provision
-U.S. v. deJesus-Gaul (CH)
-U.S. v. Evans (NJ)
-
U.S. v. Plunkett (BD) (affirmed 10/3/97 - opinion) Reply Brief
-U.S. v. Washington (RP) (affirmed 3/20/96, unpub. judgment)

Substantial assistance, validity of §5K1.1

Supervised release
-U.S. v. Breedlove (LW)
Opinion & Order & Opinion

-U.S. v.(Wendell) Jackson (LW) - Aff. 5/20/97 - Opinion
-U.S. v. Moody (BD)

Vulnerable victim
-U.S. v. Shyllon (panel atty) (pet. for cert.)

SEVERANCE

-U.S. v. Adamson (private attorney)
-U.S. v. Brown (NJ) (appellate briefs, pet. for rehr'g & pet. for cert.)
-U.S. v. Cunningham (panel attorney)
-U.S. v. Gatling (RP)
-U.S. v. Levi (SR)
-U.S. v. McLean (JH)
-U.S. v. Salamanca (AJ)
-U.S. v. Spriggs (private attorney)
-U.S. v. Trice (SR)
-U.S. v. Wilson (RP)

SPEEDY TRIAL


Waiver
-U.S. v. Diggs (LW)