Legal analysis
Notes on the Record
Analysis of federal appellate procedure, standards of review, sentencing issues, and post-conviction doctrine.
The law in context
October 2, 2026Standard of ReviewPlain Error Is Not One Question. It Is Four.Why issue framing, record precision, and the sequence of the Olano inquiry matter on federal criminal appeal.Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b)September 24, 2026Sentencing AppealsBuilding the Record for Procedural Sentencing ErrorA sentencing appeal often turns on what was asked, answered, and preserved before judgment.18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)September 11, 2026Post-ConvictionUnderstanding the § 2255 Limitations FrameworkThe one-year period is simple to state and highly dependent on procedural history in application.28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)
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