» Possession With Intent To Deliver

Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Whether Police Need Search Warrant for Cellphones

In a major test of how to interpret the Fourth Amendment and privacy rights in the digital age, the Supreme Court heard arguments today about whether the police need warrants to search the cellphones of the people they arrest. The courts have long al… Read More
Read More

Prosecutorial Misconduct

The U.S. Supreme Court has granted review in a murder case where Virginia prosecutors hid exculpatory evidence and defied a federal judge in a death-penalty case. This could be a pivotal moment for the enforcement of the “Brady Rule.” The case, W… Read More
Read More

What are the Recently Proposed Changes to the Federal Drug Trafficking Sentences?

While the proposition is a step in the right direction by reducing the overly draconian federal drug guidelines, it does nothing to correct the statutory mandatory minimum sentences, which result in the greatest injustice. Read More
Read More

What Makes A Good Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer?

What Makes a Great Trial Lawyer? LawCrossing.com asked “What makes a great trial lawyer?” and Hope C. Lefeber weighed in. What are the two crucial traits to succeed in the courtroom? Lefeber says it’s passion and amazing communication skills. … Read More
Read More

New U.S. Sentencing Commission publications called "Quick Facts"

The U.S. Sentencing Commission has recently developed publications in specific areas of federal sentencing called “Quick Facts” which provide helpful statistics. Below is the direct web page to the links for each Quick Facts publication:… Read More
Read More

Mandatory Minimum Sentencing: Holder Memo, Justice Safety Valve Act, and Smarter Sentencing Act

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder recently issued new policies to the existing mandatory minimum statutes regarding drug offenses. Holder has vowed to work with Congress to make changes to the existing mandatory minimum statutes regarding drug offens… Read More
Read More

Fourth Amendment Violated By Houseguest's Consent to Search

In United States v. Omar Arreguin, 12-50484 (november 22, 2013), the Ninth Circuit held that Appellant’s Fourth Amendment rights had been violated when a houseguest gave agents permission to search. Appellant’s motion to suppress evidence… Read More
Read More

4th Amendment: Search Warrant Application for all Email Accounts Overbroad in Criminal Case.

Warrant applications by federal law enforcement officers to search all of the contents in the e-mail accounts of individuals suspected of purchasing stolen computer equipment were too broad and too general to pass Fourth Amendment scrutiny, The follo… Read More
Read More

Third Circuit Abolishes Judicial Immunity For Witnesses

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals, in U.S.A. v. Quinn, 2013 WL 4504647, held that trial judges no longer have the authority to grant judicial immunity. The decision to grant immunity is solely within the prosecution's discretion. Read More
Read More