About Brandon Sample

Criminal Center is a boutique federal criminal defense firm. We take on a limited number of cases at a time, so each one gets close, personal attention.

What he works on

Brandon's practice is federal only. He handles federal criminal cases, sentencing, appeals and post-conviction work — the motions filed after a sentence is final. He also handles some federal civil rights, federal agency and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters.

Brandon Sample is licensed in Vermont and practices federal criminal law nationwide, with years of hands-on experience in federal courts. His practice is federal only, so he doesn't take state cases.

His federal criminal work includes:

• Pre-trial and trial

• Sentencing and mitigation

• Federal appeals

• 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motions and 28 U.S.C. § 2241 petitions

• 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) motions (when the Guidelines are lowered later)

• Compassionate release

• Prisoner treaty transfer requests

• Cooperation with the government

• Presidential pardon and commutation petitions

• Changing supervised release conditions

• Ending supervised release early

Books and writing

Brandon wrote The Habeas Citebook: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, first published in 2010. It is a reference book for state and federal prisoners on ineffective assistance of counsel — the claim that a defense lawyer's mistakes hurt the case. It is one of the most common claims prisoners raise after conviction.

A second edition, co-written with Alissa Hull, Esq., came out in 2016. The Habeas Citebook is sold by Prison Legal News, a monthly magazine about prisons and criminal justice.

Brandon also co-wrote Pardons and Commutations of Sentences: The Complete Guidebook to Applying for Clemency, published in February 2019. It is available on Amazon.

He has written more than 100 articles for Prison Legal News and co-written articles for the Huffington Post. He also writes a column for Criminal Legal News, a monthly publication that covers criminal court decisions.

Reform work

In 2013, Brandon started Prisology, a national nonprofit that works to reform the criminal justice system.

In 2014, Prisology helped motivate tens of thousands of people to support making "drugs minus two" retroactive for federal prisoners. That change, Amendment 782 to the Sentencing Guidelines, lowered most federal drug ranges by two levels. It was expected to save U.S. taxpayers more than $4 billion in prison costs.

In June 2014, Brandon testified before the U.S. Sentencing Commission in support of applying "drugs minus two" to people already in prison. His testimony, among others, helped persuade the Commission, which voted to make it retroactive later that year.

Prisology remains involved in criminal justice work, including litigation against the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Media

Brandon has been a guest on Stateside, a Michigan public radio program. He has also been interviewed on SiriusXM satellite radio and online radio shows.

Education

Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, Vermont Law School

B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, summa cum laude, Adams State University

Courts

Brandon is admitted to practice law only in Vermont. His practice is limited to federal courts and federal agencies. He has been admitted to practice before these courts:

He has also handled federal cases in courts across the country.

Professional groups

• American Bar Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Federal Bar Association
• Vermont Trial Lawyers Association

Facing a federal sentence? Book a consultation to talk it through with Brandon Sample.