Category Archives: Blog

Lunch with the Eat Jackson Team

Posted on May 16, 2012 by pandwbarrett

Had a great lunch at Mint in Ridgeland, MS with the nice folks from Eat Jackson. Take a look at the story on their website: Link Bill Barrett

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Mike Gillich dies at 82

Posted on May 1, 2012 by pandwbarrett

Mike Gillich Jr., a Biloxi man known for his role in the 1987 murders of Judge Vincent Sherry and wife Margaret Sherry, died Saturday April 28 of cancer.  Gillich was a pivotal figure in the murders of the Judge and …

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Effective lawyer right now extends to plea deals

Posted on March 22, 2012 by pandwbarrett

Source: Thompson Reuters – News and Insight It has long been recognized by the Courts of the United States that a criminal defendant is entitled to “effective assistance of counsel” at a jury trial. That is, your lawyer’s performance, or …

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Do you really want to plead guilty?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by pandwbarrett

As I sat in court a few weeks ago waiting for my case to be called, I saw something that happens in courtrooms across this state every day. A case ahead of me was a felony plea to possession of …

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Consent to search your body: Where is the limit?

Posted on January 6, 2012 by pandwbarrett

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the ruling of a District Court Judge where the consensual full body search of a man, including his crotch area, lead to a drug possession conviction.  The drug charges were a result …

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Possible Criminal Implications of BP and Halliburton Lawsuit

Posted on December 7, 2011 by pandwbarrett

Source: CNN According to documents filed in Federal court in New Orleans, BP is accusing Halliburton of having “intentionally destroyed evidence” related to the explosion aboard an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that led to the worst oil …

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How to Better Understand the Federal Bureau of Prisons

Posted on December 6, 2011 by pandwbarrett

Frequently, when dealing with defendants in federal criminal cases, the subject of federal prison and the Federal Bureau of Prisons arises.  Defendant’s have many concerns about entering the prison system. Questions like “can I be designated to a prison near my …

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President Obama Issues His First Commutation of a Sentence

Posted on November 22, 2011 by pandwbarrett

With 1 year left on in his first term as president, President Obama issued his first commutation to a federal prisoner. Commutation of a sentence involves the reduction of legal penalties, especially in terms of imprisonment. Unlike a pardon, a …

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Federal Sentencing: Does Your Case Warrant a Variance?

Posted on November 16, 2011 by pandwbarrett

After the Supreme Court’s decision  in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), judges should now engage in a three-step approach to federal sentencing: 1) the court should apply the sentencing guidelines to establish the sentencing guideline range; 2) the …

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