First, a quick news update. The new Congress began its work
yesterday, which we sincerely hope will include some action on the sentencing
relief measures that have been stalled for the past several months while the
politicians concentrated more on getting reelected than in taking care of
business. A few more executive clemencies have been granted, but hopefully
there are many more to come. Some
two-level reductions have come through, but many filed pro se have been opposed
by the DOJ and held up for the time being, so that bears watching.
I was able
to get a compassionate release granted last year, with several more pending,
and have gotten sentence relief for several individuals via the two-level
route. In habeas news, I am involved in
an evidentiary hearing coming up next month in Washington ,
D.C. BOP for failure to properly
implement its Compassionate Release policy in the manner mandated by Congress.
Needless to say, 2015 should be an interesting year.
Additionally,
I have made myself available as a contractor to assist several pre judgment
prisoners, who have not yet been sentenced, in an effort to mitigate their
possible sentences. In this role, I can
often identify issues either overlooked or ignored by defense counsel,
especially the “high-motivated” (not) public defenders or appointed, court-paid
counsel.
In any
event, I welcome hearing your questions and your concerns, to make this
experience a little more bearable, and perhaps, a bit shorter. Keep in touch, and tell your friends.
Derek Gilna, 113 McHenry Rd, #173
clemencyrelief.com
