Waiver of Appeal in Plea Agreements
In recent months there has been renewed interest in the Apprendi "statutory maximum" with regard to federal sentencing. Just when it looked as if federal courts, prosecutors, and defense lawyers were all getting comfortable again with federal sentencing, the Supreme Court issued its holding in United States v. Cunningham. In that case, the [...]
5th Circuit Expediting Criminal Appeals
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has announced a Plan for Expediting Criminal Appeals effective 4 May 2008. The court implemented the plan in order to process criminal appeals "at least within the federal appellate court median times . . . "
Significant for lawyers practicing before the Fifth Circuit, the court states:
For conduct unbecoming [...]