Brandon Sample is the attorney who handles compassionate release cases at Criminal Center, a federal criminal defense firm. He is licensed in Vermont and practices federal criminal law nationwide, with years of hands-on experience in federal courts, and he has written books on post-conviction relief and clemency.
On a compassionate release case, he handles the request to the warden and the motion in federal court. He does not handle state prison sentences or state parole.
Criminal Center, 1701 Pennsylvania Ave NW # 200, Washington, DC 20006 · help@criminalcenter.com
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About Brandon Sample
Original page last updated September 16, 2023.
Brandon Sample is a federal criminal defense lawyer, author, and criminal justice reform advocate.
Practice areas
Brandon’s law practice is focused on federal criminal defense, federal appeals, and federal post-conviction relief.
Specific areas of Brandon’s federal criminal practice include:
- Pre-trial and Trial
- Sentence Mitigation Strategies
- Federal Appeals
- 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Motions and 28 U.S.C. § 2241 Petitions
- 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) Motions
- Federal Prisoner Treaty Transfer Requests
- Federal Cooperation Assistance
- Compassionate Release
- Presidential Pardon and Commutation Petitions
- Motions to Amend Supervised Release Conditions
- Early Termination of Supervised Release
Publications
Brandon Sample is the author of The Habeas Citebook: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, first published in 2010.
The Habeas Citebook is a reference book written for people in state and federal prison. The book focuses on the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel, one of the most common claims raised by prisoners in state and federal post-conviction proceedings.
A second edition of The Habeas Citebook, co-authored with Alissa Hull, Esq., was published in 2016. The Habeas Citebook is available for purchase from Prison Legal News, a monthly magazine that covers prison and criminal justice issues across the United States.
Brandon is also the co-author of Pardons and Commutations of Sentences: The Complete Guidebook to Applying for Clemency. Published in February 2019, Pardons and Commutations of Sentences is available for purchase through Amazon.com.
Brandon has also authored over 100 different articles on criminal justice topics for Prison Legal News.
In addition, Brandon has co-authored several articles for the Huffington Post on criminal justice issues.
Brandon is also a columnist for Criminal Legal News, a monthly publication that covers criminal court decisions from across the United States.
Community involvement
In 2013, Brandon formed Prisology, a national tax exempt non-profit organization committed to reforming the U.S. criminal justice system.
In 2014, Prisology encouraged tens of thousands of people to support making the “drugs minus two” guideline reduction retroactive for people already in federal prison. The change was expected to save U.S. taxpayers over $4 billion in prison costs.
Brandon appeared before the U.S. Sentencing Commission in June 2014, and gave testimony in support of retroactive application of “drugs minus two.” His testimony, along with others, helped persuade the Commission to apply “drugs minus two” retroactively. (Read Brandon’s testimony.)
Media
Brandon Sample has been featured in national and international news media.
Education
Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, Vermont Law School
B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, summa cum laude, Adams State University
Professional associations
- American Bar Association
- Vermont Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Federal Bar Association
- Vermont Trial Lawyers Association
Court admissions
Brandon is admitted to practice law only in Vermont. His practice is limited to federal courts and federal agencies. He is admitted to practice before these courts:
U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts of appeals
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
Federal district courts
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
State courts
- Supreme Court of Vermont
He has also handled federal cases in courts across the country.
In the news: Bernard Madoff
In February 2020, Brandon Sample filed a motion for compassionate release for Bernard Madoff. The motion said Madoff had end-stage kidney disease.
Judge Denny Chin denied the motion on June 4, 2020. Madoff died in federal prison on April 14, 2021.
Outcomes vary. A past result does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other case.
NPR
Bernie Madoff, Financier Behind Notorious Ponzi Scheme, Dies At 82NBC News (Associated Press)
Ponzi king Bernie Madoff’s bid for early release rejected by judgeCBS New York
Bernie Madoff Asks To Make ‘Dying, Personal Plea’ To Judge For Early ReleaseCNBC
These Bernie Madoff victims support the Ponzi scheme king’s bid to leave prison early to die a free manNPR
Bernie Madoff Seeks Early Release Because He Has ‘Less Than 18 Months’ To Live