Federal Defenders of New York Second Circuit Blog

Johnson is Retroactive

In last year’s Johnson v. United States, the Supreme Court held the residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) void for vagueness. In today’s Welch v. United States, the Supreme Court held Johnson applies retroactively.  Only Justice Thomas dissented. This means defendants serving final sentences — meaning ones previously affirmed on appeal — are now eligible for … Read more

PC World

United States v. Diaz, No. 10-317 (2d Cir. December 15, 2010) (Cabranes, Pooler, Wesley, CJJ) (per curiam) In October, the court issued a non-precedential summary order holding that the Fair Sentencing Act (the “FSA”) is not retroactive. See “Summary Summary” posted October 27, 2010. This per curiam is a published opinion to the same effect, … Read more