United States Second Circuit

A sentencing judge's opinion as to what type of sentence would best serve the public interest is not a factual finding within the meaning of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000).

Appellate Information

• Decided 06/03/2005
• Published 06/03/2005

Judges

• LEVAL, Circuit Judge., Before:  WALKER, Chief Judge, LEVAL, KATZMANN, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Second Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• John Schoeffel, The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Appeals Bureau, New York, NY, for Petitioner-Appellant Betsy Ramos., Theodore S. Green and Richard D. Willstatter, Green & Willstatter, White Plains, NY, for Amici Curiae National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.


• For Appellees:
  
• Erica Horwitz, Appellate Advocates (Lynn W.L. Fahey, on the brief), New York, NY, for Petitioner-Appellee-Cross-Appellant Nelson Brown., Leonard Joblove, Assistant District Attorney, Kings County (Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney;  Jane S. Myers, Assistant District Attorney, on the brief), Brooklyn, NY, for Respondent-Appellant-Cross-Appellee Charles Greiner., Andrew C. Fine, The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Appeals Bureau, Brooklyn, NY, for Petitioner-Appellee Harry Rosen., Morrie I. Kleinbart, Assistant District Attorney, New York County (Robert M. Morgenthau, District Attorney;  Nicole Beder, Assistant District Attorney, on the brief), New York, NY, for Respondent-Appellants James Walsh and Eliot L. Spitzer., Jane S. Myers, Assistant District Attorney, Kings County (Charles J. Hynes, District Attorney;  Leonard Joblove, Scott J. Splittgerber, Assistant District Attorneys, on the brief), Brooklyn, NY, for Respondent-Appellees Elaine Lord and Eliot Spitzer.