In April, the United States Sentencing Commission adopted several amendments to the United States Sentencing Guidelines that, absent adverse Congressional action, will go into effect on November 1, 2023. One of those amendments stands to greatly benefit many first-time federal offenders. Notably, the Commission created a new section — Section 4C1.1 — the “Adjustment for […]

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees defendants the right to confront witnesses against them. On January 20, 2022, the United States Supreme Court held, in an 8-1 opinion in Hemphill v. New York, that the defendant, Darrell Hemphill, did not “open the door” to a violation of this right through his defense […]

On July 27, 2020, the Kentucky Supreme Court entered another order seeking to ensure the public’s access to the courts while trying to maintain appropriate safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. It sets requirements for petit and grand juries, as well as criminal show cause dockets. Notably, it states that evictions may proceed, subject to […]