Publications by Attorneys of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas

An Introduction to Federal Sentencing (11th ed. Mar. 2009), by Henry J. Bemporad. A brief introduction to federal sentencing under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, incorporating changes brought about by United States v. Booker, Gall v. United States, and Kimbrough v. United States. Includes a summary of the relevant statutes and the Guidelines Manual, and provides tips for applying the guidelines, commentary on plea bargaining, and traps for the unwary.

Challenging the Upward Bumps: The Categorical Approach and Other Sentencing Strategies for Illegal Re-entry Cases (Oct. 2009), by Francisco "Frank" Morales.

The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure: Application and Practice (June 2009), edited by Brad Bogan.

Crawford v. Washington: An Outline (July 2009), by Donna Coltharp.

Crimes of Violence (Oct. 2009), by Anne Berton. This list was created to assist attorneys in determining whether or not a prior conviction is a crime of violence warranting a 16 level enhancement under U.S.S.G. §2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(ii).

Defending Alien Smuggling Cases (May 2009), by Manual Acosta and Reggie Trejo.

Determining Your Client's Likelihood of Success under Community Supervision and Improving the Odds for a Non-Prison Sentence (May 2009), by Denise Barrett, Sara Noonan, and Molly Lizbeth Roth.

Special Issues in Alien Smuggling Prosecutions (Jan. 2009), by Mike Gorman.

Sentencing Strategies for Illegal Re-Entry (8 U.S.C. § 1326) Cases (Oct. 2008), by Frank Morales.

Four Steps Towards Better Advocacy: Approaching Your Client’s Sentencing After Booker, Rita, Gall, and Kimbrough (May 2008), by Molly Lizbeth Roth.

The Bail Reform Act: Getting and Keeping Them Out (Jan. 2008), by Frank Morales.

The Nuts and Bolts of 1326 Defense - Derivative Citizenship and Attempted Entry (Feb. 2007), by Edgar Holguin.

Defending an Alien Smuggling Case (Jan. 2007), by Frank Morales.

Tips for Handling Federal Criminal Appeals (2005), by Henry J. Bemporad.

Other Defender Publications

The Bulletin of the Federal Public Defender, Southern District of Texas (Aug. 2009)

Making Your Deal With the Devil, Plea Agreements Under the Federal Rules, Federal Sentencing Guidelines, and Department of Justice Policies (Nov. 2008), by David Taylor Shannon.

Representation in Multi-Defendant Cases (Nov. 2008), by Jon M. Sands.

Computer Forensics 101: How to Sound Like a Geek (Without Becoming One) (Nov. 2008), by Steven Kalar and Sumter Camp.

Competency/Sanity in Federal Court Strategic Considerations (Oct. 2008), by Stephen P. McCue.

Pretrial Release and Detention (Nov. 2007), by Geoffrey A. Hansen.

Searches, Seizures and Statements, The Busy Lawyer's Handbook on the 4th, 5th & 6th Amendments (Oct. 2007), by Andrea K. George.

The Office of Defender Services maintains an extensive list of training materials and other publications created by attorneys in defender offices around the country.