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A new sentencing memorandum concerning career offenders is now available!
The newest revision of our Guide For New Panel Members is now available. This valuable reference is not just for new panel members!
The 2010 ABA Formal Opinion 10-456 from the Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has been added.

Useful Points of Federal Law has been updated - click to download!

  • LINK
    AUG 01 2022
    Irving Younger’s Famous Ten Commandments of Cross-Examination
  • IMPORTANT CJA DOCUMENTS

    • 415 KB
      FEB 15 2023
      Guide for New Panel Members
    • 90 KB
      OCT 29 2022
      Earned Time Credit
    • 787 KB
      JUL 27 2022
      Pretrial Release Motion: Presumption
    • 799 KB
      JUL 27 2022
      Pretrial Release Motion: No Presumption
    • 109 KB
      MAY 22 2022
      Restitution in Child Pornography Cases
    • 215 KB
      MAR 3 2019
      Brief Bank
    • 2.80 MB
      MAR 01 2023
      Useful Points of Federal Law
    • 28 KB
      Ethical Issues for CJA Counsel
    • 70 KB
      NOV 13 2016
      Redaction Requirements.pdf
    • 1.29 MB
      NOV 30 2018
      Federal Sentencing: The Basics
    • 1 MB
      OCT 9 2020
      CJA Plan for the Northern District of Florida
    • 959 KB
      APR 2014
      Interaction of State and Fed Sentences 4-2014.pdf
    • 516 KB
      JUL 14 2010
      ABA Formal Opinion 10-456 - American_Bar_Association.pdf

    Sentencing Memos

    • 30 KB
      DEC 19 2013
      Writing a Sentencing Memorandum

    Sample Sentencing Memos

    • 38 KB
      MAR 09 2023
      Career Offender
    • Argues against the imposition of a career offender sentence using sentencing statistics from the Sentencing Commission showing most career offenders receive sentences below Guidelines and criticism from other courts.

    • 197 KB
      35 KB
      OCT 31 2022
      Synthetic Marijuana
    • Argues for a variance.

    • 36 KB
      DEC 11 2021
      Methamphetamine
    • Argues against relying on the career offender guidelines, citing criticism from courts and the Sentencing Commission’s recommendation that the career offender provision be limited to those with prior violent convictions. Argues, too, that the Guidelines for pure methamphetamine produce inequitable results, because they are out of date, failing to recognize that almost all the methamphetamine now distributed is of high quality. Contends defendant’s poor health and age support a below-guideline sentence.

    • 37 KB
      JAN 08 2020
      Firearm Possession
    • Relies on defendant’s difficult childhood and his addiction to drugs. Criticizes the Guidelines for firearm possession.

    • 30 KB
      JAN 05 2021
      Production of Child Pornography
    • Cites criticism of the production of child pornography guideline. Relies on recidivism statistics to show no need for a long sentence to protect the public. Brief reference to client’s youth.

    • 35 KB
      FEB 11 2021
      Receipt of Child Pornography
    • Cites criticism of child pornography guideline and the collateral punishment that comes with being designated a sex offender.

    • 44 KB
      SEP 16 2020
      Production of Child Pornography
    • Discusses defendant’s difficult upbringing and his success in overcoming it. Relies on letters of support written by family and friends. Uses reports of psychologists to demonstrate a below-average risk of recidivism. Cites criticism of the applicable guideline. Provides history of the ever-increasing penalties for the offense.

    • LINK  
      Find more information on Federal Sentincing on FD.org's Sentencing Resources page.