Books by Brandon Sample

This book is for people raising ineffective assistance of counsel claims. That is a claim that your lawyer’s work was so poor that it violated your right to a lawyer. It is the claim raised most often in post-conviction and habeas corpus cases.

The book collects federal appeals court and district court cases, published and unpublished, and sorts them into 40 categories. Examples include a lawyer who failed to investigate a defense, a lawyer with a conflict of interest, and bad advice about an appeal.

It also includes the text of key rules and procedural codes, sample briefs, and practical notes on procedure for people preparing a habeas petition or another challenge to a conviction.

The book is published by Prison Legal News and written for both prisoners and lawyers.

The President can grant pardons and commutations for federal crimes. A pardon is official forgiveness. It does not erase the conviction, but it can remove some legal limits that follow it. A commutation shortens a sentence someone is serving now.

People usually ask for a pardon after they finish their sentence. People still in prison usually ask for a commutation.

This guidebook is written in plain language for people who want to apply. It explains the application process, what to put in a petition, and common questions about clemency.