Federal Defenders of New York Second Circuit Blog

Inadequate Voir Dire Requires a New Trial

Perhaps you’ve wondered whether the Second Circuit would ever throw out a conviction because of inadequate voir dire in selecting the jury. Wonder no more. It’s finally happened. In United States v. Nieves, — F.4th —-, 2023 WL 405354 (2d Cir. Jan. 26, 2023), the defendant, a former gang member, challenged his conviction, following a jury trial, … Read more

BIDEN’S MARIJUANA PARDONS MISS THE MARK FOR NONCITIZEN DEFENDANTS

The White House announced yesterday that President Biden would grant “full, complete, and unconditional” pardons to U.S. citizens and lawful residents previously convicted of simple possession of marijuana under 21 U.S.C. § 844(a) and D.C. Code 48-904.01(d)(1).  The move is intended to “help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions,” and will doubtless help … Read more

Second Circuit Holds N.Y. Attempted Second Degree Assault With a Deadly Weapon (N.Y.P.L. §120.05. (2) ) a “Crime of Violence” Under Force Clause and §846 Narcotics Conspiracy a “Controlled Substance Offense.”

In United States v. Tabb, __ F.3d __, 2020 WL 573379 (2d Cir. Feb. 6, 2020), the Court of Appeals held that New York’s attempted assault in the second degree with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument qualifies as a crime of violence under the force clause. The Court had previously held, in Singh v. … Read more

Second Circuit Affirms Denial of Post Trial Competency Hearing for Pro Se Defendant with “Sovereign Citizen” Tax Defense.

In United States v. DiMartino, __ F.3d __, 2020 WL 550475 (Feb. 4, 2020) (Jacobs, Sack, Hall), the Circuit affirmed the denial of a post-trial motion for a competency hearing based on the defendant’s persistent adherence to the “Sovereign Citizen” theory that the IRS and Justice Department are private corporations, the tax laws are invalid, … Read more

Second Circuit Rules That No Statement of Reasons Is Required For a VOSR Sentence.

In United States v. Smith, __ F.3d __ , 2020 WL 521612 (Feb. 3, 2020) (Wesley, Chin, Sullivan), the Court of Appeals held that no Statement of Reasons (“SOR”) need be filed for a sentence imposed in a VOSR, even if it is above the Guidelines range, because the Sentencing Commission has not provided an … Read more

Inspector General Releases Report on 2019 MDC Power Outage

The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General released a report on the electrical fire and ensuing power outage at the MDC Brooklyn last winter.  You can access the report here. There were significant heating issues at the MDC, but these were unrelated to the fire.  Turns out, there are “long-standing temperature regulation issues,” which … Read more

Categories BOP

Supreme Court Debrief: Flowers v. Mississippi

In Flowers v. Mississippi, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that death-row inmate Curtis Flowers’ criminal trial was affected by racial discrimination.  You can read more about the case here. Georgetown Professors Abbe Smith and Vida Johnson of Georgetown Law’s Criminal Defense & Prisoner Advocacy Clinic, two career criminal defense attorneys, have recorded a video exploring the … Read more

Second Circuit Upholds ACCA Sentence

In United States v. Evans, the Second Circuit upheld a sentence imposed pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 924(e)(2)(B), the Armed Career Criminal Act (“ACCA”). As the Court described it, the case presented “the latest entry in a series of cases defining offenses that qualify as ‘violent felonies’” for the purposes of ACCA’s sentencing enhancement. The Court … Read more