Latest Case: United States v. Rogers (Criminal Law)

The Oprah Interview as a Truth Commission

LESLEY WEXLER

Illinois Law professor Lesley Wexler explains how Oprah’s interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might illuminate how a formal truth commission to deal with legacies of racism and colonialism might function in the British empire. Professor Wexler describes the purpose and function of state-operated truth commissions and notes the similarities and differences between those and the interview.

Read More

United States v. Rogers

Docket: 18-13532

Opinion Date: March 9, 2021

Judge: Branch

Areas of Law: Criminal Law

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed defendant's 360-month sentence imposed after he pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. The court concluded that there was no error in applying a four-level sentencing enhancement under USSG 2G2.2(b)(4) for sadism/masochism for three separate images. The court also concluded that the application of USSG 2G2.2(b)(5) and 4B1.5 did not constitute impermissible double counting and there was no plain error; the district court did not abuse its discretion during the sentencing hearing in excluding evidence regarding the two pending state statutory rape cases involving one victim; and defendant's sentence is substantively reasonable.