USEFUL POINTS OF FEDERAL LAW Introduction In 1976 I began collecting on 3x5 cards what I=ve labeled, here, as Auseful points of law@ - one card per point. Eventually I gave up the cards in favor of the computer. When I became the Federal Public Defender in late 1998, I started collecting federal cases. What follows is that collection I began in 1998. I=ve put it on line in hopes the information will be of value to the members of our North Florida panel and the lawyers within our office. The majority of the Apoints@ come from the 11th Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. There are, though, some from other jurisdictions as I sometimes include them when I run across a decision I think is helpful. What I=ve included represents points of law that I think I might be able to use to defend a client, that address an issue that I need to know, or that states an established principle for which I might someday need a citation. Please know that this document is no longer up to date. The last couple of years I just haven’t had time to keep it up. Still, I continue to use it as a starting point and the vast majority of caselaw remains valid. Be forewarned, too, there is no guarantee as to accuracy. I=m sure there are errors in the spelling of some of the case names and in the citations. Then, too, there isn=t any warranty as to the content of the summary. You should read the case yourself before relying upon it. Some of the oldest citations are to the Florida Law Weekly Federal. There are also some citations to the federal reporter. Most of the citations, though, amount to the name of the case, the appellate case number, and the date the opinion issued. You=ll see there is table of contents. It doesn=t bear too much of a resemblance to what West does, but the organization makes sense to me. I=m hopeful it will make sense to you. You can also search the summaries by using a particular word. Please call me or email me if you have questions or if you want to report any errors. Randy Murrell (850) 942-8818 [email protected] 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ADAM WALSH ACT .................................................................................................................. 11 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW .......................................................................................................... 11 AIDING AND ABETTING .......................................................................................................... 11 APPEALS ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Harmless Error .......................................................................................................................... 12 Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................................... 13 Plain Error ................................................................................................................................. 19 Standard of Review ................................................................................................................... 20 Waiver ....................................................................................................................................... 22 APPRENDI ................................................................................................................................... 23 ARMED CAREER CRIMINAL ACT.......................................................................................... 26 ARREST ....................................................................................................................................... 35 ARSON ......................................................................................................................................... 37 ASSIMILATED CRIMES ACT ................................................................................................... 37 ATTEMPTS .................................................................................................................................. 37 ATTORNEY CLIENT RELATIONSHIP .................................................................................... 37 ATTORNEY=S FEES ................................................................................................................... 40 BLAKELY V. WASHINGTON ................................................................................................... 40 BOOKER ...................................................................................................................................... 40 Appellate Review ...................................................................................................................... 40 Crack/Powder Disparity ............................................................................................................ 43 Ex Post Facto ............................................................................................................................ 44 Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................................... 45 Procedure .................................................................................................................................. 48 Role of the Guidelines .............................................................................................................. 50 Variance - Downward ............................................................................................................... 51 Variance - Upward .................................................................................................................... 57 Weight Due Guidelines ............................................................................................................. 57 BUREAU OF PRISONS .............................................................................................................. 58 CARJACKING ............................................................................................................................. 59 CERTIORARI............................................................................................................................... 59 CITATION FORM ....................................................................................................................... 60 2 CLOSING ARGUMENTS ........................................................................................................... 60 COMITY ....................................................................................................................................... 61 CONFESSIONS AND STATEMENTS ....................................................................................... 61 Coercion .................................................................................................................................... 61 Immunity ................................................................................................................................... 62 Miranda Warnings .................................................................................................................... 63 Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................................... 67 Testimonial ............................................................................................................................... 70 Waiver ....................................................................................................................................... 70 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ....................................................................................................... 71 CONSPIRACY ............................................................................................................................. 71 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW .......................................................................................................... 76 Commerce Clause ..................................................................................................................... 76 Confrontation ............................................................................................................................ 77 Double Jeopardy ....................................................................................................................... 80 Due Process ............................................................................................................................... 81 Equal Protection ........................................................................................................................ 85 Ex Post Facto ............................................................................................................................ 85 Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................................... 86 Retroactivity of New Law ......................................................................................................... 90 Speech ....................................................................................................................................... 93 Statutory Challenges ................................................................................................................. 94 CONTEMPT ................................................................................................................................