January 29th, 2020

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US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Opinions
United States v. Chambliss

Docket: 19-50741
Opinion Date: January 28, 2020
Judge: Kurt D. Engelhardt
Areas of Law: Criminal Law

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of defendant's motion to reduce his sentence under 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(1)(A)(i), a part of the First Step Act of 2018. The court held that the district court sufficiently articulated its reasons for denying defendant's request for compassionate release. In this case, the district court acknowledged that defendant's terminal disease constitutes an extraordinary and compelling reason for a sentence reduction and that he does not present a danger upon release. However, the district court noted that compassionate release is discretionary, and applied the 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) factors, considering defendant's severe conduct, his serious drug crime, and his criminal history.

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