Abdul Majid and Bashi Hameed v. Leonard A. Portuondo, Robert Kuhlmann, Docket Nos. 03-2608, 03-2610 (2d Cir. October 26, 2005)(Oakes, Kearse, Sack, op. by Sack). In a very long opinion that doesn’t really say much, the Court found no constitutional right to cross-examine witnesses at a Batson hearing. In 1986, Majid and Hameed, represented by … Read more
Eliot S. Sash v. Michael Zenk, Docket No. 04-6206-pr (2d Cir. Oct. 26, 2005) (Sotomayor, Wesley, Brieant (by designation)): In this case, brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 by a prisoner in BOP custody and litigated by David Lewis of this Office, the Circuit upholds as “reasonable” the BOP’s odd & stingy interpretation of … Read more
United States v. John J. Cassese, Docket No. 03-1710 (2d Cir. Oct. 24, 2005) (Calabresi, Parker, Raggi): Oh what it must be like to be John Cassese — lucky enough to draw Judge Sweet as his trial judge, and rich enough (and smart enough) to hire a former star of the SDNY USAO as his … Read more
United States v. Shlomo Cohen, Docket No. 04-0983-cr (2d Cir. Oct. 20, 2005) (Meskill, Cabranes, Nevas (by designation)): The Court principally rejects an IAC claim, following Cohen’s conviction for conspiring to import ectasy from Belgium and to distribute it in the United States, based on counsel’s failure to (1) object to the prosecutor’s off-hand reference, … Read more
United States v. Kurti, Docket No. 04-2239-cr (2d Cir. Oct. 19, 2005) (Winter, Katzmann, Murtha (by designation)): Praise the lord: The often ignored and little understood provision of the Guidelines establishing the “procedure for determining the specific sentence to be formally imposed on each count in a multiple-count case,” i.e., U.S.S.G. § 5G1.2, has officially … Read more
Gersten v. Senkowski, Docket No. 04-0935-pr (2d Cir. Oct. 17, 2005) (Winter, Pooler, Brieant (by designation)): A great win for the defense. This is (at least) the third case in recent memory in which the Circuit granted habeas relief to a state prisoner claiming that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at his trial for … Read more
United States v. Wendell Smith, Docket No. 03-1588-cr (2d Cir. Oct. 17, 2005) (Winter, Sotomayor, Parker): During Smith’s trial in a courtroom located in the federal building complex in Rochester, the U.S. Marshals Service, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), required all visitors to the complex to show a photo identification before … Read more
United States v. John Fuller, Docket No. 04-4595-cr (2d Cir. Oct. 17, 2005) (Oakes, Cabranes, Goldberg (by designation)): In this case, litigated by Colleen Cassidy of this Office, the Circuit primarily holds that remand for resentencing is required pursuant to Fagans even where the sentencing judge announced, at a sentencing that occurred post-Blakely but pre-Booker, … Read more
United States v. Samuel Yakobowicz, Docket No. 04-0201-cr (2d Cir. October 14, 2005) (Winter, Sotomayor, Parker): Sometimes those visiting judges are more trouble than they’re worth. Here, a visiting judge from the Northern District of Ohio, presiding over the defendant’s E.D.N.Y. trial for filing false tax returns, sua sponte adopted a trial procedure we’ve never … Read more
Apologies for this diversion, which has nothing to do with criminal law in the Second Circuit. But here’s a great gift idea for that rare teen (or the teen in all of us) with aspirations to become a member of This Great Profession. (Click HERE).