About
Books by Brandon Sample
Two books by Brandon Sample for prisoners, families, and lawyers: one on ineffective assistance of counsel, one on applying for federal clemency.
Brandon Sample has written two practical books for people facing federal post-conviction issues: one on ineffective assistance of counsel claims, and one on applying for a federal pardon or commutation. Both are written for prisoners, families, and lawyers who need clear explanations and primary sources, not slogans.
The Habeas Citebook: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel (2nd Edition)
Paperback, 275 pages. Written by Brandon Sample and Alissa Hull.
Prison Legal News Publishing (2016). ISBN 978-0-9819385-4-7.
The Habeas Citebook helps people raise ineffective assistance of counsel claims — the claim that a defense lawyer's mistakes hurt the case. That claim is among the most common grounds raised after a federal conviction, often under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 or related post-conviction statutes.
The book organizes federal appeals and district court decisions, published and unpublished, into about 40 topic categories. Topics include failures to investigate, conflicts of interest, bad advice about pleading guilty or going to trial, and mistakes on appeal. It also reprints key rules, includes sample briefs, and walks through procedure for people preparing a habeas petition or other challenge to a conviction.
Who it is for: people in federal custody (or their families) who need case citations and a map of how courts treat specific kinds of lawyer error, and lawyers who want a fast starting point for research.
Buy The Habeas Citebook from Prison Legal News
Pardons and Commutations of Sentences: The Complete Guidebook to Applying for Clemency
Paperback, 259 pages. Written by David L. Mathis and Brandon Sample, Esq.
Prisology Press (2019). ISBN 978-1797428079.
Only the President can grant clemency for a federal offense. A pardon is forgiveness for a conviction and removes many of the legal disabilities that follow it; people usually apply after release. A commutation shortens a sentence that is still being served. The Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney describes the process and publishes the forms at justice.gov/pardon.
This plain-language guidebook explains how to apply for a federal pardon or commutation: how the process works, what belongs in a petition, and answers to common questions about federal clemency. It is not a substitute for advice about a specific case.
Who it is for: people seeking a presidential pardon or commutation, and families helping them gather records and write a petition.
Buy Pardons and Commutations on Amazon
Need help with a live case?
Books are a starting point. If you need advice about a federal 2255 motion, an appeal, or a clemency petition, Request a consultation.