Will Thompson v. United States Redefine Fraud Laws?
The Supreme Court’s Thompson v. United States could redefine federal fraud law, specifically limiting charges to explicit falsehoods. Currently, misleading statements—even half-truths—are often treated as fraud, but Thompson challenges this interpretation, highlighting a split between circuits. If the Court narrows the definition, fraud prosecutions may only target direct lies, impacting both charges and plea deals.
On the morning of Monday, October 21, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a case that has sharply divided federal courts across the country: what standards judges are to consider when deciding whether to revoke supervised release.
In their thought-provoking guest article in Law 360, “Post-Chevron, Good Riddance to the Sentencing Guidelines,” co-authors Mark Allenbaugh, Doug Passon, and Alan Ellis dive deep into the implications of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. This landmark case has effectively dismantled the long-standing Chevron doctrine, which traditionally granted deference to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes.
Washington, D.C. – In a major victory for sentencing reform advocates, the U.S. Sentencing Commission has amended the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines to preclude the consideration of acquitted conduct at sentencing. This amendment, which goes into effect on August 1, 2024, marks a significant step towards a more constitutional and equitable sentencing system.
The Supreme Court made a decision in Pulsifer v. United States that significantly narrowed the reach of the “safety valve” provision, which allows for reduced sentences in federal drug offenses, undermining recent efforts by Congress to mitigate the harshness of mandatory minimum sentences. The majority’s interpretation, as described by Justice Elena Kagan, restricts the eligibility
Read the latest expert opinion on Law360. co-authored by SentencingStats.com President Mark Allenbaugh and board member Alan Ellis on why acquitted conduct is an unlawful practice that the supreme court must put an end to. Download a PDF of the full article here.Synopsis: Supreme Court Must End Acquitted Conduct Sentencing – Law360 While all three