Court-imposed internet restrictions and their application to criminal defendants used to be a non-issue. In the past few months, though, the U.S. Supreme Court in Packingham v. North Carolina unanimously invalidated a state law banning registered sex offenders from accessing websites that could facilitate direct communications with minors. Although the majority opinion and concurrence appears […]
As the population ages, more and more of our elderly and infirm who have been convicted of federal crimes are finding themselves behind bars. While there does exist a vehicle by which to secure the early “compassionate release” of elderly and terminally ill offenders, defendants’ requests for sentence reduction under this provision has traditionally fallen […]
Federal criminal defense lawyer, NiaLena Caravasos, is extremely honored at her selection once again in 2017 to be a continuing Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA). This honor is bestowed upon less than ½ of 1% of all of the lawyers in the United States and is based upon the criteria of excellence […]
Federal criminal defense lawyer, NiaLena Caravasos, is honored and humbled at her selection for the 9th year as a Super Lawyer and also at having been chosen again for the 3rd year in a row as one of the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers. Both recognitions are featured in the June 2017 edition of Philadelphia […]
Under the Obama administration, the U.S. Department of Justice had decided to gradually end its use of private federal prisons due to the fact that inmates being housed there while serving sentences following federal criminal convictions were being physically abused, denied medical care, and forced to endure inhumane living conditions while corporations such as Corrections […]
Federal criminal defense lawyer, NiaLena Caravasos, is extremely honored not only to have been selected once again as a Super Lawyer as she has been for many years, but also to have been chosen again as one of the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, which is a recognition of a select group of women among […]
In light of the current public discussions regarding whether judges should strictly interpret the law or not, it seems as though it is only fitting to highlight the philosophy of this extraordinary U.S. District Court judge from the Western District of Washington. The story of “One Judge Makes the Case for Judgment: John Coughenour says […]
“Former federal judge to President Obama: Free the man I sentenced to 55 years in prison” headlines an article in the Washington Post. Former U.S. District Court Judge Paul Cassell (previously appointed to the bench in 2002 by former President George W. Bush and now a professor at the University of Utah’s law school) has […]
According to the recent Associated Press article entitled “Sex offenders challenge new federal passports law,” President Obama just signed a somewhat controversial federal sex offender law, the International Megan’s Law bill, and a civil rights group has filed suit challenging the requirement for sex offenders to be identified on their passports. The lawsuit will be […]
According to the Marshall Project, “drug-war-era bans on benefits are [being] lifted” as the number of states still denying federal benefits to former drug felons is shrinking. 18 states have completely abandoned the federal prohibition on drug offenders receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or food stamps, while 26 other states have partly eased […]
“Top 50 Women” Super Lawyers
July 26, 2016
“10 Best” Attorneys in PA for Client Satisfaction in Criminal Law
November 07, 2016
“Fellow”, Litigation Counsel of America
September 16, 2016
