Notable Articles

Gang Land News

Compassionate Release Motion Granted and Life Sentence Reduced After 29+ Years Behind Bars

A federal judge granted Eric Millian a compassionate release, calling him a rehabilitated “man of extraordinary character.”

Detroit Free Press

Federal Sentences and the Stacking of § 924(c) Charges

Attorney Harlan Protass co-authored a piece with a federal inmate about the effects of stacking § 924(c) charges.

New York Law Journal

The Ex Post Clause In The Post-‘Booker’ World

An in-depth analysis of federal sentencing guidelines in the wake of United States v. Booker, which rendered those guidelines advisory rather than mandatory.

The Ex Post Clause In The Post-‘Booker’ World

Slate.com

Could Michael Vick Play Next Season

Attorney Harlan Protass discusses how to skim the top off a federal prison sentence.

Slate.com

How to Nail Blagojevich

According to Attorney Harlan Protass, prosecutors could seek a five year sentence for the former Illinois governor, but shouldn’t.

The National Law Journal

Make New Crack Law Retroactive

Harlan Protass and Mark D. Harris discuss how Such a move would permit thousands of men and women who were harshly sentenced long ago to benefit from lawmakers’ enlightened perspectives.

Make New Crack Law Retroactive

Slate.com

The Quality of Mercy Is Strained

Bush commutes Libby’s sentence, while his lawyers come down hard on everyone else.

Slate.com

When Do Kids Get Tried as Adults?

How to pull a child out of the juvenile justice system.

Slate.com

O.J.’s Vegas Defense

Can you legally steal your own property?

Los Angeles Times

Closing crack’s 100-1 ratio

“Lawmakers let pass into law new guidelines proposed by the Sentencing Commission that will cut crack prison terms by an average of just over two years, with the amount of narcotics involved still playing the determining factor in the length of sentences.”

Slate.com

Witness Immunity 101

How to incriminate yourself on the stand without getting in trouble.

Witness Immunity 101

Slate.com

How To Prosecute Eliot Spitzer

Which federal laws might the former governor have broken?

Chicago Tribune

The Misguided CEO Blame Game

“As the stock market continues its dizzying decline and the taxpayer tab for the fix continues to rise, it’s perfectly natural to look for someone to blame… But going after CEOs is nothing more than a clever deception designed to trick the American public into believing that the government has identified the culprits responsible for their economic woes and is doing something about it.”

Slate.com

Madoff Mercy

How long should the Ponzi-schemer go to prison for?

Chicago Tribune

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, but Not Yours

Attorney Harlan Protass explores the legal dilemma posed by recalling presidential pardons on an outdated requirement that they must be physically received and accepted.

Slate.com

Obama Can Fix the Race Gap in Sentencing Law

A stroke of the pen can undo vast racial disparities in criminal sentences.

HuffPost

The Government Can Read Your Emails, But a New Law Might Stop Them

“It is high time for the law to catch up with today’s technologies. And, while not perfect, Senator Leahy’s proposition is a step in the right direction.”

The Government Can Read Your Emails, But a New Law Might Stop Them

CNN

Can Dealers Face Murder Charges in Hoffman’s Death?

If suspects sold heroin to Philip Syemour Hoffman, can they be held for his death? Not likely.

The Wall Street Journal

A Saner Approach to Sentencing

Mandatory minimum laws need an overhaul. Congress is ready. Will the President Obama make good on his promises?

Newsday

Bail Spotlights Law’s Inequity

“We should worry a lot less about whether wealthy criminal defendants like Strauss-Kahn get to stay in their private prisons while awaiting trial, and worry more about calibrating bail amounts to the financial resources of each individual defendant.”

The National Law Journal

Not Guilty? Go to Jail

Attorney Harlan Protass discusses the practical application of a practice known as “acquitted conduct sentencing,” in which jail terms can be based on conduct underlying charges that actually ended with not guilty verdicts.

Not Guilty? Go to Jail

Des Moines Register

Life in Prison for Rubashkin is Too Harsh

In this guest article, attorney Harlan Protass explores the unjust rationales for imposing long sentences for financial crimes based solely on federal sentencing guidelines.

Newsday

No Right to Ignore Subpoena

Attorney Harlan Protass examines the purpose of subpoenas in the judicial system and the importance of not applying special treatment to individuals based on position.

New York Law Journal

Criminal, SEC Cases: Opposing Discovery Stay Petitions

Attorney Harlan Protass discusses that, while the government often prevails in obtaining discovery stays in SEC actions running parallel to criminal cases, they do not have to win.

The National Law Journal

Plea-bargaining Cases: Form over Substance

Court cases ‘Lafler’ and ‘Frye’ provide an important remedy to criminal defendants who receive ineffective counsel, but neither helps lawyers decide whether to go to trial.

Plea-bargaining Cases: Form over Substance

Slate.com

Rajat Gupta’s Trial: The Case for Civil Charges Against Him

Attorney Harlan Protass discusses the benefits of finding more worthwhile and effective ways of pursuing insider-trading cases, which would free-up prosecutorial resources to fight other economic crimes that pose a far greater danger to investors.

Blog Posts

New York Seeks Bail Reform for the Second Time in Three Years

Suggested changes would expand judges’ discretion to set cash bail.   Did the bail reform laws enacted by the New York legislature in 2019 lead to the release of two Mexican cartel smugglers arrested with $1.2 million of meth in New York City in early…

Topic: Uncategorized

Case Results

Financial Recovery in FINRA Arbitration Case

Attorney Protass recovered 80% of the client’s monetary demand on the eve of trial on a FINRA arbitration claim. The outcome of an individual case depends on a variety of factors unique to that case. Case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result…

Supervised Release Terminated Early for Two Individuals

Attorney Protass secured early termination of supervised release for two individuals who had served lengthy prison terms and had completed approximately half of their 5-year terms of supervised release. The outcome of an individual case depends on a variety of factors unique to that case….