Our motto at Zen Law Guy is simple: Be helpful. For over a decade, we’ve been helping attorneys and their clients obtain better outcomes in court, and helping people facing prison do so successfully.
We’ve got the “inside info” on how these things work:
- Federal criminal defense, sentencing, and appeals.
- Federal post-conviction relief
- Defending federal sex-offense cases
- Preparing for federal prison
- Facing life as a sex offender
Latest posts on the Zen Law Guy blog
- Attacking the Guilty Plea: Court Threatens More Time in Child Porn Case if Post-Conviction Motion Successfulzlg, 1/1 archive, I`m always asked whether the court can impose a harsher sentence if someone is successful in vacating their conviction or sentence under 28 U.S.C. sec 2255. My answer is always the same: It depends, but it can happen. Usually, a sec 2255 motion attacking a guilty plea opens the door for any […]
- By the Numbers: Federal Child Pornography Convictions Across the U.S.zlg, dc 1/1 archive, Tracking the numbers of federal child pornography convictions across the country isn`t easy. Federal prosecutors are given broad discretion in what charges to bring (or not bring), and what charges to drop in order to induce a guilty plea. They also control, to an extent, the final sentence by the type […]
- Fear of Sex Offender Recidivism Continues Despite Evidence Saying OtherwiseWay back in 2003, Justice Kennedy said in an opinion on a state sex-offense case that “the risk of recidivism posed by sex offenders is frightening and high.” Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84 (2003). He backed this statement by saying that reoffense by sex offenders “has been estimated to be as high as 80%.” […]
- USSC Report Highlights Problems with Sentencing in Child Porn Caseszlg, dc 1/1 archive, title USSC Report Highlights Problems with Sentencing in Child Porn Cases] If Congress wants to complain that federal judges are “too lenient” on child pornography offenders, it may want to take a look at a recent report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) for some answers. The Report, titled Federal Sentencing […]
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Popular topics
actual innocence AEDPA child pornography sentencing doing time as a sex offender Federal Appeals federal habeas corpus Federal Sentencing guilty plea habeas relief illegal sentence ineffective assistance of counsel mass incarceration pleading guilty plea hearing prison life prosecutorial misconduct recidivism section 2254 section 2255 sex offender housing sex offender registry sex offender restrictions sex offenders withdrawing a guilty plea Wrongful Imprisonment
Recent post titles
- Attacking the Guilty Plea: Court Threatens More Time in Child Porn Case if Post-Conviction Motion Successful (May 24, 2022)
- By the Numbers: Federal Child Pornography Convictions Across the U.S. (May 21, 2022)
- Fear of Sex Offender Recidivism Continues Despite Evidence Saying Otherwise (May 15, 2022)
- USSC Report Highlights Problems with Sentencing in Child Porn Cases (May 14, 2022)
- ******** (May 13, 2022)
- Should the Supreme Court Be More Transparent? (May 13, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: Obtaining Habeas Relief After a Guilty Plea (May 10, 2022)
- My Blog Posts are a Preview to my Revised Insider`s Guide Books (May 3, 2022)
- What Books Would You Recommend for Someone Seeking Federal Habeas Corpus Relief? (May 3, 2022)
- SCOTUS Adds Extra Obstacle to Federal Habeas Relief in Brown v Davenport (April 29, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: Jurisdictional Pitfalls When Seeking Habeas Relief (April 28, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: The Savings Clause Remedy for Federal Prisoners (April 23, 2022)
- Separating the Judge from the Opinion: Is it Possible? (April 23, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: Understanding Second or Successive Motions for Federal Prisoners (April 16, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: The Procedures for Obtaining a COA (April 14, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: Taking an Appeal After the Denial of Habeas Relief (April 14, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: Understanding Post-Judgment Motions (April 13, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: Understanding the Order and Judgment (April 11, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: The Evidentiary Hearing for Federal Prisoners (April 10, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: The Role of the Magistrate Judge (April 8, 2022)
- Hobbs Act Robbery is Never a `Crime of Violence` for Federal Sentencing Enhancement Purposes (April 7, 2022)
- Federal Drug Conspiracy Involving Both Crack and Other Drugs Still Eligible for First Step Act Relief (April 6, 2022)
- What is Florida`s 1,000-Foot Rule for Sex Offenders? (April 5, 2022)
- The Problem with Sex-Offender Residency Restrictions (April 4, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: Getting Around Procedural Default (April 3, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Court Finds Both Trial and Post-Conviction Counsel Ineffective, Vacates Death Sentence (March 31, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Corpus: Post-Filing Procedures in Seeking Habeas Relief (March 28, 2022)
- Federal Habeas Relief for Racist Juror Strikes Requires Fact-Heavy Analysis (March 25, 2022)
- Federal Court Finds Evidence Withheld by Prosecutor Opens Door for Successive Habeas Petition (March 16, 2022)
- Federal Court Says Four-Year Delay for State Appeal Excused Federal Habeas Exhaustion Requirement (March 13, 2022)
- Federal Courts Have Authority to Impose Habeas Remedies, Despite Different Remedies Available to State Courts (March 11, 2022)
- What is this `Freedom` They`re Talking About? (March 11, 2022)
- Supreme Court Justice Exposes Why Sex Offender Residency Restrictions Don`t Work and Increase Chances of Reoffending (March 8, 2022)
- Brother of Little Rock Mayor Required to Register as Sex Offender, After Stealing Car with Kids in it (March 8, 2022)
- Wisconsin Court Delays Criminal Appeal to Stop Federal Lawsuit Over Police Misconduct (March 6, 2022)
- Federal Court Affirms Habeas Relief in Louisiana Murder Case (March 5, 2022)
- Attacking the Guilty Plea: Getting More Time After a Successful Guilty Plea Challenge (March 2, 2022)
- Ukraine Firefighters are True Heroes (March 2, 2022)
- Attacking the Guilty Plea: Waivers and Breaches of Plea Agreements (March 2, 2022)
- Attacking the Guilty Plea: The Art of Withdrawing a Guilty Plea (March 1, 2022)
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