Denial of Injunctive Relief Upheld in 2-1 Split In Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals As we have previously covered, there has been a flurry of litigation after the Illinois state legislature passed a ban on the sale and transfer of various assault weapons and...
Federal Crimes
More Changes to Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Expansion of Compassionate Release As we previously covered, changes to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for the sentencing of “Zero Point Offenders” went into effect November 1, 2023 after there was no objection from Congress. Those changes also will be applied...
Famous Rapper Questions Lawyers Use of AI at Federal Trial
Rapper Accuses Attorney of Outsourcing Closing Arguments to AI Technology In Request for New Trial Prakazrel Michel, better known by his professional name “Pras” and as a member of the hip hop group Fugees, recently appealed his April federal conviction on charges of...
Lawful Marijuana Users May Have Gun Rights Restored
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Hears Case Concerning Medical Marijuana Users and the Second Amendment As we have previously covered, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) and by extension the federal government remain committed to denying...
Republican Senators Voice Opposition to Proposed New Gun Control Regulation
Department of Justice Seeks to Redefine “Engaged in Business” to Expand Gun Control The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a proposed rule change by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that would expand when a person is “engaged...
Felons May Be Able to Have Gun Rights Restored
Recent Supreme Court Decision Presents Avenue for Felons to Possess Guns Again Last year when the United States Supreme Court announced its decision in New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, many advocates of Second Amendment rights saw an opening for greatly...
Department of Justice Shifting Focus to Concentrate on White Collar Crime Enforcement
High Ranking Official Highlights Appointment of Chief Counsel for Corporate Enforcement as Evidence of New Focus This past Monday, the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, Marshall Miller, announced during a panel on white-collar crime that the Department of...
Will the Federal Government Ease Marijuana Restrictions?
Federal Agency Recommends Marijuana Reclassification and Rescheduling The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), recommended that the DEA reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I substance...
Federal Sentencing Guidelines Amended for Zero Criminal History Point Offenders
Federal Sentencing Guidelines Amended for Zero Criminal History Point Offenders Defendants With No Criminal History to Receive Reduction in Guideline Level Calculation The United States Sentencing Commission recently met and made changes to the federal sentencing...
Ex-Top Staffer Found Guilty as Part of Federal Investigation into Public Corruption
Former-Chief of Staff for Former-House Speaker Madigan Found Guilty of Obstruction and Perjury A federal jury only needed 5 hours to find longtime ex-Chief of Staff to Michael Madigan, Tim Mapes eguilty of obstruction of justice and perjury charges stemming from...