Author: Federal Public Defender

Deputy Federal Public Defender Koren Bell Argues Before the U.S. Supreme Court in Shaw v. US

Posted on October 4, 2016

Today, Koren Bell, an attorney with Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California, argued before the United States Supreme Court in the federal appeal of our client, Lawrence Shaw.  The Court granted review to interpret 18 U.S.C. §1344(1), which prohibits any scheme to defraud a financial institution.  Bell argued that this statute requires the government to prove that a defendant both intended to deceive a bank and intended to thereby cheat that bank by taking its property. The transcript of the oral […]..

Attorney General Kamala Harris Issues Smart on Crime Award to the California Central District’s CASA Program

Posted on July 8, 2015

On July 8, 2015, the Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-entry presented a Smart on Crime Award to the California Central District’s Conviction and Sentencing Alternatives (CASA) program. The award recognizes individuals who are leading the way in innovative criminal justice programs. The award recipients demonstrate leadership in the development of successful recidivism reduction programs and are making substantial contributions to re-entry efforts in California. The CASA program, including members of its team with the Federal Public Defender’s Office for […]..

Deputy Federal Public Defender Jonathan Libby Argues Before the Supreme Court in Alvarez v. U.S.

Posted on February 22, 2012

Today, Jonathan Libby, an attorney with Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California, argued before the United States Supreme Court in the federal appeal of our client, Xavier Alvarez.  The legal issue at question: The constitutionality of a federal law that makes lying about receiving military medals or honors a crime. Mr. Libby argued that the First Amendment would suggest that Congress does not get to decide what we can and cannot say. Further, there needs to be harm associated with the lie […]..

Federal Public Defender Sean Kennedy Argues Before the U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on November 10, 2010

On November 10, 2010, Sean Kennedy, Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California, argued before the United States Supreme Court in the California death penalty appeal of our client, Scott Pinholster. The legal issue at question: Can new evidence be used in federal court to upset an old and long-settled state court conviction?  Mr. Kennedy argued it would be unfair and illogical to bar federal judges from ever considering powerful evidence that was overlooked or ignored in the state courts. Click here for […]..