More defendants find themselves cooperating with the government in an effort to reduce their sentences. I have learned that judges always seek evidence that a defendant has had a "change of heart" that has generated "genuine remorse," and is highly unlikely to re-offend. The key here is to determine whether the client is unlikely to reoffend.
In 1977, the United States entered into its first prisoner transfer treaty with a foreign country — Mexico. Under this treaty, Mexicans arrested and imprisoned in the United States could be eligible for transfer to their home country in order to serve out their sentences there. Similarly, Americans arrested in Mexico were eligible to apply to have the remainder of ...
Attorneys Alan Ellis and Karen L. Landau discuss ways in which federal criminal defendants, who have been convicted of a crime, either after a guilty plea or a trial, may challenge a conviction or sentence. The article, which first appeared in the Criminal Justice, Spring 2002 Edition, answers the following questions: Who is entitled to a direct appeal? What issues ...
Attorney Alan Ellis and Todd Bussert outline areas about which defense counsel should be aware in order to afford clients the greatest opportunity for post conviction relief. In this article, originally published in Criminal Justice, Volume 25, Number 1, Spring 2010 by the American Bar Association, they explore ethical constraints on defense counsel’s ability to advise clients and to shield ...
Attorneys Alan Ellis and James H. Feldman, Jr. discuss how the §2255 and §2241 motions are applied to prisoners in custody to vacate their convictions or sentences. Originally published by the National Association of Criminal defense Lawyers, the article answers the following questions: Who can file a §2255 motion? What issues can be raised in a §2255 motion? How does ...
