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With no fanfare, Sandra Hemme, the Missouri woman who spent 43 years in prison for a murder she did not commit, is finally free of the legal system (access full article…

The Commission released its Preliminary FY24 Fourth Quarterly Sentencing Update.

In FY24, 61,137 individuals were…

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has appointed Richard McWilliams as the next Federal Public Defender for the District of Nebraska.

McWilliams brings over 14 years of experience as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Omaha. A graduate of the University of…

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed MacArthur Justice Center Executive Director Amir Ali to the federal trial court in Washington, D.C. (…

President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office is putting a spotlight on the U.S. penitentiary in Terre Haute, which houses federal death row. (access full article)

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the DEA will cease its "cold consent encounters" at airports, during which agents demand to search people's bags while telling them things like, "I don't need your consent." The suspension…

An indigent criminal defendant has a right to a public defender for many aspects of the criminal process, but not necessarily for all aspects. For example, what about an appeal of a denial of the reduction of a sentence based on certain retroactive amendments to the U.S. Sentencing…

What do you get when you combine a routine traffic stop with the driver's criminal history, several air fresheners in the car, driving from a job interview, and the driver's movements while looking for proof of insurance? Knoxville, Tenn. drug interdiction officer: Reasonable suspicion of drugs…

Texan meth and fentanyl importer pleads guilty in 2022 and receives a "career-offender enhancement" at sentencing. He objects because his prior marijuana convictions wouldn't have been "controlled substance offenses" after 2018 reforms.…

In 2023, disgraced former lawyer Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murdering his wife and son following a high-profile trial. If that weren't enough, Murdaugh is also alleged to have stolen nearly two million dollars from his personal injury clients with the help of a bank CEO. During the CEO's…