United States v. Turnick — 2d Cir. (Oct 19, 2026)
The Second Circuit hears Justin Turnick's appeal of a federal prison sentence. His drug case arose from sales of narcotics to people he knew. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal district court. For context, criminal history points classify a defendant's prior record and help determine the sentencing range under the federal Sentencing Guidelines. Some lesser offenses count only under specified conditions, such as the length of the earlier sentence. Application notes are the Sentencing Commission's commentary explaining the Guidelines, distinct from the guideline text. One note says convictions for driving while intoxicated or under the influence, and similar offenses, are always counted. The interaction between that commentary and the text is central to the discussion you will hear. The pre-sentence report, usually called the P.S.R., is prepared by probation for the judge.
United States v. Turnick (No. 25-437) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argued October 19, 2026.
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