Sentencing memo strategies - f d Persuasive... · •Include photographs that help to illustrate...
Transcript of Sentencing memo strategies - f d Persuasive... · •Include photographs that help to illustrate...
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Overview/OutlineI. What is a sentencing memo and why write one?
II. Prep work
III. How to Synthesize the Information You Collected
IV. Formatting- how to format your memo and what to include
V. Putting Pen to Paper- how to write the darned thing
VI. A Few Reminders
* Disclaimer- we will not be discussing pure legal arguments.
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I. WHAT IS A SENTENCING MEMO AND WHY WRITE ONE?
•Sentencing Memo Defined:
“The Sentencing Memorandum is written by defense counsel to the judge in an effort to present a more complete picture of the defendant other than the crime itself.” -
Prisonology
•Before writing, ask: do I need to file one in this case?
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WHAT IS THE GOAL OF WRITING A SENTENCING MEMO?
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II. Prep WorkA. Reviewing discovery and case materials in light of sentencing
B. Using the PSR- the good, the bad, and the in between
C. Interviewing the client
D. Gathering character letters
E. Obtaining expert reports, if needed
F. Checking other resources
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A. FACT BUSTING DISCOVERY•Who are the other actors?
•What parts did they play?
•When did the conduct take place?
•Where did the conduct take place?
• How will the government portray the client?
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B. FACT BUSTING THE PSR- the good, the bad, and the in between•WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
• Obvious mitigation
• Disparity arguments
• Significant Dates
• TIP - Go through the entire PSR with a couple of highlighters- assign one color for
aggravating and one for mitigating factors. Any information that can be both mitigating
and aggravating, highlight with both colors.
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C. INTERVIEWING THE CLIENT- The 2 Big Questions:1. WHY DID YOU DO WHAT YOU DID?
2. HOW DO WE ASSURE THE COURT YOU WON’T DO IT AGAIN IF YOU GET A
BREAK?
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INTERVIEWING THE CLIENT- Timelines• How to create a timeline?
• Identify dates from PSR and Discovery review
• Include all dates- births, deaths, criminal history, employment record, etc.
•Why?
• Answer first question- finding patterns
• Answer second question- the plan for avoiding future conduct
• Look for the before and after events
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INTERVIEWING THE CLIENT- Areas to explore• Early Childhood & Youth
• Family Dynamics
• Residential History
• Education- Elementary, Middle, High School, College, Post-Grad
• Friends and Group Dynamics
• Substance Abuse History
• Medical and Mental Health History
• Romantic Relationships
• Children and Child Support
• Support for Adult Family
• Employment and Financial History
• Military Background
• Faith /Religion
• Volunteering and Good Works
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COUNSELING THE CLIENT
• Go through the timeline and identify patterns with the client
• Ask- what services are we asking for in BOP? Any we can start on now?
• What is the client’s plan to avoid conduct in the future? Any in the PSR?
• If the client is out on release-
• Have them engage in treatment or support groups
• Make sure they work or are going to school.
• If they have restitution, see if they can make a payment at sentencing.
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D. Character Letters•Ask the client for contacts
•Reach out to family and friends
•Reach back out if the letters are not effective/appropriate
•Only submit letters that are helpful
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E. Expert Reports•When to call in an expert
•How to find an expert
•How to use the expert’s findings
•Whether to file an expert report
•Don’t hesitate to ask for revisions!
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F. Other Resources
•FD.org- Sentencing Resources Page
•USSC.gov- Guidelines manuals and statistics
•Berman’s Blog- sentencing.typepad.com
•FAMM.org- News & Media Page
• Your local FPD office- trainings, newsletter, etc.
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III. Synthesizing Your MaterialsBefore you start writing, ask these questions:
•What are you requesting?
• If asking for a variance, how significant a variance are you requesting?
•Who is your judge?
• Are there any rules or judicial preferences that will guide what you write?
Check http://www.nced.uscourts.gov/judges/preferences.aspx
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Tips for writing a gripping memo• Have a theme that you carry throughout the memo
• Grab the reader from the beginning with a unique opening- steal the government’s thunder about how bad the case is, quote a portion of the client’s letter to the court, include a definition of something involved in the case.
• Include photographs that help to illustrate points you are making about the client.
• Quote expert reports, character letters, or case law that is on point with the theme of your case.
• Assume the court knows the boilerplate sentencing law and just jump into your relevant factors.
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IV. Formatting- Rules?• Traditional: Intro, Statement of Facts, Optional Procedural History, Argument,
Conclusion
• Intro paragraph, short numbered paragraphs, conclusion
• Intro paragraph, a long story told in the client’s voice, and conclusion
• Intro paragraph with roadmap of a few arguments, argument section fleshing
out the specific arguments, and conclusion
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Variances: Intro & Cases• Guidelines - Pre-Booker
• Resurrecting 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)
• Landmark SCOTUS Cases:
• United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2004)
• Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. 338 (2007)
• Kimbrough v. United States, 552 U.S. 85, 101 (2007)
• Gall v. United States, 128 S. Ct. 586 (2007)
• Nelson v. United States, 555 U.S. 350 (2009)
• Sufficient but not greater than necessary.
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Variances:18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)
• History and characteristics of the defendant
• Nature and circumstances of the offense
• The need for the sentence to:
• Reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, and provide just
punishment
• Afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct
• Protect the public from further crimes by the defendant
• Provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training, medical care, or other
correctional treatment
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18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) (con’t)• The kinds of sentences available• Statutory minimum?• Don’t be discouraged by the USSC table zones!
•Guidelines policy statements
• The need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities• Research other cases with similar facts• See how other defendants were treated
• The need to provide restitution to any victims of the offense
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Departures•5H- Specific Offender Characteristics
• “May be relevant”
•“Not ordinarily relevant”
•5K- Other Grounds for Departures – circumstances not adequately taken into account.
•2L1.2 n. 7- Cultural Assimilation
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V. Putting Pen to PaperA. Choose a theme
B. Regardless of your format- it must be like a story if it’s for mitigation
C. Start with the facts
D. Organize your argument
E. Craft your conclusion
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A. Choosing a Theme•What’s a theme?
•Newspaper heading
•Using archetypes
•Literary themes
•Logical and resonates with the judge
•Pity alone does not qualify as a theme.
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B. Storytelling
•Beginning, middle and end
•Characters- Protagonists, antagonists, etc.
•Conflict and resolution
•Setting
•Shape and direction
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Storytelling in Sentencing Memos
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C. Start with the FACTS
• Facts are the key ingredients to a good memo.
•After fact-busting, list out all relevant facts.
•Try using all of the compelling facts- good and bad- that support your theme.
•No need to focus too much on the offense conduct.
•Describe, don’t conclude.
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USING FACTS TO PAINT A PICTURE
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What to do with Aggravating Factors?
•Do not minimize the aggravating factors in your case if you’re
going to raise them.
•Put them in context- use case comparisons or spectrum
arguments
•Steal some thunder and own it!
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D. Organizing your Argument•Why?
•To guide your reader through your thought process
• It demonstrates your credibility as a writer
•Tips: Don’t throw in the kitchen sink
•Place in order of most to least persuasive
•Use roadmaps with descriptive headings and subheadings that match
•Be strategic - leave yourself something to say at the hearing.
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E. Your conclusion•Keep it brief.
•Carry your theme through to the end.
•Ask: have you answered the 2 questions?
•Recap the main points that support your request.
•Restate the requested sentence and make sure it matches your introduction.
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VI. Reminders Before you File• Are you filing under seal? See Local Criminal Rule 55.2.
• Required if discussing cooperation. CM/ECF Policy Manual V.G.1. (f) and Standing Order No. 09-SO-2. No motion
needed.
• When else? Sensitive information, etc.
• Check judge’s preferences- do you need a motion? If so- how detailed must it be?
• Make sure your case caption and COS reflect filing under seal.
• Any exhibits or attachments?
• Character letters- can be attachments but may need redaction or filing under seal
• Expert reports
• Diplomas or other mitigation documents
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For the Next Memos
•Evaluate the effectiveness of prior sentencing memos
•Keep track of which arguments resonate with which judge
•Try not to over-use arguments, resources, or experts
•Maintain a list of cases with good results that you can cite to later
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Thanks!Vidalia Patterson, Research and Writing Attorney
Federal Public Defender, Eastern District of North Carolina
919-856-4236
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