[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39752-39753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14384]


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UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION


Request for Applications; Federal Public Defenders Advisory Group

AGENCY: United States Sentencing Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has decided to establish a Federal Public 
Defenders Advisory Group as a standing advisory group pursuant to 28 
U.S.C. 995 and Rule 5.4 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure. Having adopted a formal charter for the Federal Public 
Defenders Advisory Group, the Commission is constituting the initial 
voting membership of the advisory group under that charter. Under the 
charter, the advisory group will consist of not more than 17 voting 
members. Of those 17 voting members, one shall be Chair, one shall be 
Vice Chair, 12 shall be circuit members (one for each federal judicial 
circuit other than the Federal Circuit), and three shall be at-large 
members. As indicated in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below, 
to be eligible to serve as a voting member, an individual must be an 
attorney (1) from a federal public defender organization or community 
defender organization; (2) with significant experience with federal 
sentencing or post convictions issues related to criminal sentences; 
and (3) in good standing of the highest court of the jurisdiction or 
jurisdictions in which he or she is admitted to practice. All voting 
members are selected and appointed by the Commission. Circuit members 
must be from a federal public defender organization or federal 
community defender organization located within the circuit they are 
appointed to represent. The Commission hereby invites any individual 
who is eligible to be appointed to the initial voting membership of the 
Federal Public Defenders Advisory Group to apply. Application materials 
should be received by the Commission not later than August 8, 2016. An 
applicant for voting membership of the Federal Public Defenders 
Advisory Group should apply by sending a letter of interest and resume 
to the Commission as indicated in the ADDRESSES section below.

DATES: Application materials for the initial voting membership of the 
Federal Public Defenders Advisory Group should be received not later 
than August 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: An applicant for voting membership of the Federal Public 
Defenders Advisory Group should apply by sending a letter of interest 
and resume to the Commission by electronic mail or regular mail. The 
email address is [email protected]. The regular mail address is 
United States Sentencing Commission, One Columbus Circle NE., Suite 2-
500, South Lobby, Washington, DC 20002-8002, Attention: Public Affairs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Leonard, Director, Office of 
Legislative and Public Affairs, (202) 502-4500, [email protected]. 
More information about the Federal Public Defenders Advisory Group 
(including

[[Page 39753]]

the advisory group charter) is available on the Commission's Web site 
at http://www.ussc.gov/about/who-we-are/advisory-groups.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Sentencing Commission is 
an independent agency in the judicial branch of the United States 
Government. The Commission promulgates sentencing guidelines and policy 
statements for federal sentencing courts pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 994(a). 
The Commission also periodically reviews and revises previously 
promulgated guidelines pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 994(o) and submits 
guideline amendments to the Congress not later than the first day of 
May each year pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 994(p). Under 28 U.S.C. 995 and 
Rule 5.4 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, the 
Commission may create standing or ad hoc advisory groups to facilitate 
formal and informal input to the Commission. Upon creating an advisory 
group, the Commission may prescribe the policies regarding the purpose, 
membership, and operation of the group as the Commission deems 
necessary or appropriate.
    The Commission recently adopted a formal charter for the Federal 
Public Defenders Advisory Group. Under the charter, the purpose of the 
advisory group is:
    (1) To assist the Commission in carrying out its statutory 
responsibilities under 28 U.S.C. 994(o);
    (2) to provide to the Commission its views on the Commission's 
activities and work, including proposed priorities and amendments;
    (3) to disseminate to federal defenders, and to other professionals 
in public defender and community defender organizations, information 
regarding federal sentencing issues; and
    (4) to perform other related functions as the Commission requests.
    The Federal Public Defenders Advisory Group shall consist of no 
more than 17 voting members. Of those 17 voting members, one shall be 
Chair, one shall be Vice Chair, 12 shall be circuit members (one for 
each federal judicial circuit other than the Federal Circuit), and 
three shall be at-large members. To be eligible to serve as a voting 
member, an individual must be an attorney (1) from a federal public 
defender organization or community defender organization; (2) with 
significant experience with federal sentencing or post convictions 
issues related to criminal sentences; and (3) in good standing of the 
highest court of the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which he or she 
is admitted to practice. All voting members are appointed by the 
Commission. Circuit members shall be selected from the circuit in which 
their respective federal public defender organizations or community 
defender organizations are located.
    All voting members of the Federal Public Defenders Advisory Group 
shall serve not more than two consecutive three-year terms. However, 
the terms of the initial voting membership shall be staggered so that--
    (1) the initial Chair shall serve a term of three years;
    (2) the initial Vice Chair shall serve a term of two years;
    (3) of the initial circuit members, 4 shall serve a term of three 
years, 4 two years, and 4 one year; and
    (4) of the initial at-large members, 1 shall serve a term of three 
years, 1 two years, and 1 one year.
    The Commission invites any individual who is eligible to be 
appointed to the initial voting membership of the Federal Public 
Defenders Advisory Group to apply by sending a letter of interest and a 
resume to the Commission as indicated in the ADDRESSES section above.

    Authority: 28 U.S.C. 994(a), (o), (p), Sec.  995; USSC Rules of 
Practice and Procedure 5.2, 5.4.

Patti B. Saris,
Chair.
[FR Doc. 2016-14384 Filed 6-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 2210-40-P