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5C12-SAFETY VALVE-ANOTHER FAILED SENTENCING REFORM EFFORT
U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Mandatory Minimums, Safety Valve Encourage Snitches, Promote False Testimony, Prevent Just Sentences
By: Houston Criminal Lawyer John Floyd and Paralegal Billy Sinclair
Anytime a new penal statute uses the term “reform” you can take to it the bank that the result will produce just the opposite; that its objective to correct a perceived and politically charged threat will, more than likely than not, harvest a new crop of worse injustices.
Thus is the case with the federal Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (“SRA”), passed with strong bipartisan support during the Reagan presidency after many years of debate and study. The first indicator that the SRA was not about “reform” was that it was born out of the omnibus Comprehensive Crime Control Act which was designed to overhaul the federal criminal justice system. Notwithstanding that SRA was the afterbirth of a sweeping congressional effort to “get tough” on crime, proponents of SRA hailed its primary purposes which were: “(1) to establish comprehensive and coordinated statutory authority for sentencing [currently found in 18 U.S.C. § 3553]; (2) to address the seemingly intractable problem of unwarranted sentencing disparity and enhance crime control by creating an independent, expert sentencing commission to devise and update periodically a system of mandatory sentencing guidelines; and (3) principally through the sentencing commission to create a means of assembling and distributing sentencing data, coordinating sentence research and education, and generally advancing the state of knowledge about criminal behavior.”
One of the SRA’s chief sponsors, the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, believed the U.S. Sentencing Commission (“Commission”) and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines (“Guidelines”) the Commission would promulgate would accomplish three primary policy goals: 1) produce just punishment, deterrence, incapacitation and rehabilitation; 2) provide certainty and fairness by eliminating the sentencing disparity, which had plagued the federal court system, through individualized sentencing that considered both aggravating and mitigating factors; and 3) enhance the knowledge of human behavior as it pertained to the criminal justice system.
Last year, the Commission issued a report based upon independent analysis and research,Demographic Differences in Federal Sentencing Practices: An Update of the Booker Report’s Multivariate Regression Analysis, which made the following findings:
- Black male offenders received longer sentences than white male offenders. The differences in the sentence length have steadily increased since Booker [a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision which held the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines are “advisory” and not mandatory as they had been uniformly interpreted since SRA’s enactment].
- Female offenders of all races received shorter sentences than male offenders. The difference in sentence length fluctuated at different rates in the time periods studied for white females, black females, Hispanic females, and “other” female offenders (such as those of Native American, Alaskan Native, and Asian or Pacific Islander origin).
- Non-citizen offenders received longer sentences than offender who were U.S. citizens. The differences in sentence length have steadily increased since Booker.
- Offenders with some college education received shorter sentences than offenders with no college education. The differences in sentence length have remained relatively stable across the time periods studied.
- The data were inconsistent as to the association between an offender’s age and the length of sentence imposed.
Thus, thirty-six years after SRA’s enactment, federal sentencing practices are just as arbitrary, discriminatory, and counterproductive to the goals of justice as they were before SRA’s enactment. This has been especially true in federal sentencing practices in drug cases, most notably those involving crack/powder cocaine. Besides the individual biases of some federal judges in these cases, the primary problem is the mandatory minimum sentence requirements in most drug cases.
Mandatory minimum sentencing was created by Congress in 1986, two years after the enactment of SRA. The Drug Policy Alliance (“DPA”) points out that mandatory drug sentences are based on three factors: type of drug, weight of the drug mixture (or alleged weight in conspiracy cases), and the number of prior convictions. The purpose of mandatory minimums was to target “drug kingpins” but, as DPA notes, the U.S. Sentencing Commission has found that only 5.5 percent of the crack cocaine cases and 11 percent of all federal drug cases involve “high-level drug dealers.”
In 1994, in another futile effort to eliminate the ever-increasing disparity between the “least culpable” and “more culpable” drug offenders, Congress enacted more “sentencing reform” legislation. This time it was the Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Reform Act, codified in § 3553(f), which created a “safety valve” in the Guidelines. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals in In Sealed Case (Sentencing Guidelines “Safety Valve”) in 1997 said the “safety valve” provisions ofU.S.S.G. § 5C1.2 requires U.S. district court judges to disregard mandatory minimums in certain drug cases and instead sentence a defendant pursuant to the Guidelines when he/she satisfies five indices of reduced culpability: “1) the defendant has no more than one criminal history point; 2) the defendant ‘did not use violence or credible threats of violence or possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon (or induce another participant to do so) in connection with the offense’; 3) the offense did not result in death or serious bodily injury; 4) the defendant was not a leader or organizer of the offense; and 5) the defendant has fully cooperated with the government.”
The defendant must satisfy all five indices to warrant a “safety valve” departure from a mandatory minimum sentence. In 2008 the Families Against Mandatory Minimums (“FAMM”) found that since 1995 more than 63,272 federal drug offenders received the benefit of a “safety valve” sentence, which saved the federal government $25,000 per year, shaved off each offender. FAMM touts the benefits of federal “safety valve” provisions as follows:
- Give courts flexibility to prevent unjust sentences: safety valves allow courts – in very narrow circumstances – to sentence a defendant below the mandatory minimum if the mandatory minimum is too lengthy or doesn’t fit the offender or the crime.
- Protect public safety: safety valves don’t mean that people get off without any prison time, just that they don’t get any more prison time than they deserve. Safety valves thus help 1) prevent prison overcrowding, 2) avoid the need to release violent offenders early to make room for nonviolent offenders entering the system, and 3) save scarce space and resources for those who are a real threat to the community.
- Save taxpayers money: when courts sentence offenders below the mandatory minimum, they spend less time in prison than they would otherwise be required to, which results in less corrections costs for taxpayers.
FAMM, however, advocates that the “safety valve” provisions not only be expanded for all drug offenders but extended to all federal offenses mandating a mandatory minimum. The advocacy group points out that the current “safety valve” provisions are so strict that many nonviolent, low-level drug offenders cannot satisfy its five indices. The group notes that in 2008 while 52 percent of all drug offenders had little or no criminal history and 80 percent of them did not have or use a weapon and only 5.7 percent were considered leaders, managers or supervisors of others, only 25 percent of the drug offenders benefitted from the safety valve provisions.
The Commission disputes these FAMM conclusions. In a March 2009 report titled “Impact of Prior Minor Offenses on Eligibility for Safety Valve,” the Commission reported:
“As part of its ongoing review and amendment of the guidelines, the commission, in August 2006, began to examine various aspects of the criminal history rules located in Chapter Four of the guidelines, including the treatment of misdemeanor and petty offenses (minor offenses). The Commission hosted two roundtable discussions on November 1, 2006 and November 3, 2006, in Washington, D.C., to solicit input from judges, defense attorneys, probation officers, Department of Justice representatives, and members of academia as one component of this review. The Commission also gathered information through its training programs, the public comment process, and comments received during a public hearing held in March 2007.
“During the process, some commentators hypothesized that the inclusion of minor offenses in the criminal history calculation has an unwarranted adverse impact on offenders’ criminal history scores and, ultimately, their guideline ranges and sentences. In April 2007, the Commission promulgated an amendment to respond to these concerns and modify the provisions determining whether and when certain minor offenses are counted in the criminal history score.
“The dialogue leadings to the promulgation of the amendment focused, in part, on the frequency with which prior minor offenses caused a defendant convicted of drug trafficking to become ineligible to receive the benefit of the safety valve relief provided by statute and guideline. Data reviewed by the Commission in connection with the amendment showed that relatively few drug trafficking offenders are excluded from receiving the safety valve because of the guideline provision regarding minor offenses.”
In support of this conclusion, the Commission said it examined 24,483 drug offenders, and that 9,115 of them (37.2 percent) received the benefit of the safety valve provisions. Of the 9,115 safety valve beneficiaries, 1,519 of the offenders had a prior “minor offense” in their criminal history which did not affect their safety valve eligibility. Further, the Commission pointed out that of the 15,368 drug trafficking offenders who did not qualify for safety valve consideration, only 788 of them had a prior “minor offense” in their criminal history but who did not qualify because they failed to satisfy all five of the safety valve indices.
Whether the percentage of drug offenders who receive safety valve consideration is 25 percent as stated by FAMM or 37 percent as stated by the Commission is relatively immaterial. The issue, we feel, is that the safety valve considerations are much too stringent to achieve meaningful sentencing reform. When less one-third of the offenders receive the benefit of a “reform” sentencing statute, then it cannot reasonably be said that the desired reform is truly meaningful.
We feel that only two of the five safety valve indices are relevant to meaningful reform objectives: whether a weapon was possessed or used during the offense; and whether the offense resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of anyone.
We would like to stress that we find it particularly offensive that a fundamental aspect of the safety valve statute is that the defendant must become a full-fledged “snitch” to secure the benefit, not only against himself but anyone else who may have been involved, no matter how remote, in any criminal activity associated with the offense. Failure to fully and completely “snitch” is a sufficient basis for the Government to oppose a safety valve benefit and for the court not to extend it.
Finally, we have not only become disillusioned with the Guidelines, even if they are now “advisory,” as a sentencing reform device but have become convinced they will never produce the fair and impartial justice they were designed to achieve in the federal sentencing process. While we are not prepared to return to unfettered judicial discretion in sentencing, we are now convinced that the Guidelines, regardless of how many times they are amended, are unworkable in producing equal, racially neutral sentencing practices in the federal courts.
The Guidelines, no matter their original intent, have not led to any meaningful reform. The result of years of Guideline sentencing has been much less about than justice and fairness in sentencing than about treating individuals as generic automatons, who have no personal and unique histories, backgrounds or accomplishments. The Guidelines have been, and continue to be, used to force defendants to plea guilty and cooperate with the Government or face a severe and draconian sentencing regime. The Guidelines have been used to pressure defendants to accept plea agreements rather than exercise their right to trial by jury, for fear they will lose downward sentencing adjustments for “acceptance of responsibility” and saving the government time preparing for trial. The Guidelines have led to a justice system dependent upon snitches, in which questionable cases are prosecuted by a Government, which understands the immense pressure place upon a defendant to plea guilty, regardless of meritorious defenses the defendant may have or the reality of actual innocence. This is not the American way…
By: Houston Criminal Defense Attorney Lawyer John Floyd and Paralegal Billy Sinclair
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Testimonials
John T. Floyd Law Firm
3730 Kirby Drive # 750, Houston
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If you have hired attorneys that meet the Webster dictionary definition, ie: "Attorney " is a person that has a law degree, will not be totally honest, can take your money … More and not earn it, will put you off until he is ready to talk to you, and/or never study your case to be able to defend you. Mr. Floyd is the only attorney that doesn't fit that definition!! You will be delighted to have Mr. John Floyd in your corner! Not one attorney that I have ever met that would ever return a check that I sent to him, because he said I paid him too much! Wow! That right there should tell you something about his integrity!!!!! He has a very calm demeanor and doesn't stretch the truth even if you don't want to hear it, he will tell you the truth. Call and set up an appointment with him and judge for yourself. You are wasting time and money on any other attorney, just hire the best, Mr. Floyd.
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John T. Floyd and his team are some of the best people! I was able to get a second opinion from them on legal advice. His team has been honest, kind, and very informative which has … More been a huge blesssing.
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I highly recommend John T. Floyd Lawfirm. They are truly knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to defend your innocence. Psalms 35
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Outstanding!Professional knowledge. Rich experiences. Good outcome.
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The best lawyer I ever encounter with a very good personality. He’s very professional and he will go far and beyond for his clients best interest. He’s definitely a 5 star attorney … More when it comes to delivering. I couldn’t be more happier that I hired him !! 👏👏👏👏
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I can honestly say from what I have seen so far, Floyd is a compassionate soul who cares for his client's. Floyd is by far very knowledgeable in this area. He's currently … More assisting my [Father] on a sex assault. We are all suffering so much as my father is an elder man, but we have faith in God, and Mr. Floyd he can dismissed this outrageous allegation soon. Thank you, yoli
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I had wonderful experience with this law firm. They were so helpful and knowledgeable of the process.my case was dismissed because of Mr John T Floyd,thank you for everything .
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I am very happy today my case dismissed God bless Mr John T Floyd very good lawyer thanks you so mush sir
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I had a great experience with this Law Firm, the kind staff helped me locate a Lawyer even though they were unable to take my case.
They were very helpful, kind and returned my call … More in a timely manner. I would definitely recommend them and use them in the future. -
I can tell that Jone is an excellent attorney in Houston. Personally, he is a great man. In addition to great service and amazing results. Recommended
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Mr. Floyd is an incredible attorney and human being. He cares about your case, the facts, the law, and your life! I am sorry for whatever situation you are going through, but choosing … More Mr. Floyd, his firm, and their professional experience to help you, will be the best decision you ever make!
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John T Floyd is a straight shooter! He was very direct and responsive to my phone calls and questions. I was in awe of his knowledge, and professional decorum! The best decision that … More you could make is to schedule a consultation with him before considering anyone else!
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I asked the Law Office of John T. Floyd a very important question regarding the legal aspects of purchasing a firearm with a deferred adjudication charge. They answered the question … More very professionally and accurately and I was quite pleased with the information that was shared. I recommend this law firm because they are very honest and will work for you and with you.
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I’ve never been one to write reviews but this time I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to say something. I had some serious legal questions I needed answers to concerning Texas laws. … More Being I’m from another state, I found and reached out to Attorney John Floyd for the answers. Mr Floyd listened to to my requests and told me what he need from me and went out of his way to get me the answers. Very polite, straightforward and professional, I can’t thank him enough for all he’s done. Whatever your legal case may be, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Mr Floyd.
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John & Chris helped my family member get a reduced charge and acceptable plea agreement in place. Their compassion, attention to every detail was what helped carry the day.Truly … More the best of the best.P
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Mr. Floyd is both ethical and loyal to his clients; two qualities that are hard to find specially in lawyers. I'd definitely recommend him to anyone.Positive
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Mr. John was very helpful and truly was the reason why my case was dismissed. Thank you so much Mr. John I truly recommend everyone in need to work with him.
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His service to the community and diligence to helping his clients speaks for its self! Not to mention the many articles, papers and TV appearances that speak to his intellect
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John has given Excellent service and have been very friendly and extremely helpful to us. I highly recommend this law firm
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This law firm is diligent, responsive and succeeded in getting my case dismissed. 10/10 would recommend.
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super knowledgeable, good attitude, would definitely recommend him
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Very helpful, knowledgeable and honest.
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John is an amazing person and lawyer who is actually very understanding of how anxious I got and although it was hard to reach him sometimes because of his schedule, but never worry … More he is on top of things. He is very organized, very smart. I had the experience to go through a trial with him, and he always plans ahead well and is actually open and receptive to any ideas and comments I had and he was quick to decide which is right to use at the moment. I really appreciated working with him and Chris. Great lawyers and great people. As I was reminded by John, I am adding that the Jury reached a not guilty decision on the original charge and on a lesser charge in just 25 minutes. It took more time to write the charge and instructions for the jury than it took them to reach a decision.
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Highly recommend John T Floyd law firm, great response time and demeanor.I was researching an on-going criminal case, when I found an informative article written by John Floyd (about … More the perils of expert testimony). I called his office, and was very pleased to receive a timely call back. Not only was Mr. Floyd candid and helpful, but he had the kindest demeanor of any attorney that I've dealt with. I am so glad to have found this firm.
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Although I am not a client, John Floyd contacted me the same day I sent an email requesting advice, answered my questions and even when further to assist with my issue and communicated … More with me the next day. A true credit to his profession and I can only imagine how well he provides services to his actual clients!
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I give Mr. Floyd 10 Stars if they were available so I'm giving him five that's all that's available. The first time I left a message for him it was on a Friday after … More 5 p.m. and within 15 minutes he called me back I told him I needed to buy a lotto ticket because that has never happened. I knew from our chat and him calling me back that he was different from any attorney I've tried to talk to left messages never got called back they didn't even know what I needed and neither did Mr. Floyd but he did call me back. I was very interested in meeting with mr. Floyd about my case because I felt he was very transparent honest and genuine. If you've ever dealt with attorneys they don't have those traits but Mr. Floyd does. He was very honest with me told me what I could and could not do with my case. He is not egotistical he's very compassionate and he actually reads the documents you sent him unbelievable that's never happened. He will be the only lawyer I refer to anyone that needs his expertise. If you're in need of a criminal defense attorney please give John T Floyd a call you will not be disappointed.
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Mr John is a great human being and a very knowledgeable attorney. He has always called me back promptly,advised me very clearly and never rushed our conversation. i was wrongfully accused … More and Mr John had my case DISMISSED!! on the day of trial after fighting for me for two years. I am very thankful to the John T. Floyd Law Firm. You will not go wrong with John. Mr John you deserve way more then 5 stars.Thank youShaikh.
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John Floyd Law Firm is highly recommended for your legal needs. He and his staff are highly professional in every aspect. Easy and comfortable feeling talking with him, and he understands … More your needs and explains your legal advice in a way you can understand. Enough just cant be said. Thank You Sir.Positive
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John was kind enough to assist me with legal advise on my firearm gun rights restoration. I highly recommend him and his firm. Very professional and knowledgeable. If I need assistance … More in the future I will definitely go back to him.
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What I liked the most was that he actually returned my phone after leaving a message unlike pretty much everyone else I called prior. He listened and answered my question with the best … More advice that would benefit me the most. I was actually lost from moving to Texas from a different state we’re laws vary and he pointed me toward the right direction to get a understanding of if I need to do business with him now or after I contact a lawyer in my home state.
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John T Floyd handled my sons case & got a dismissal for us! He is great to work with, gets back to you promptly & knows what he’s doing. Definitely one of the best we have had … More to deal with!Positive
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John is honestly the best! The whole team is. He answered me in a timely manner and helped me when my friend was going through a situation in Houston, Texas as an inmate. He was so … More thorough, honest, and without charging me sent me so much information because I was out of the loop. He never once tried to take you for your money, he did all that he could to. help me and I can't thank him enough.
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I have used John on two occasions and found him to have full knowledge of Texas law, diligent, creative in plan, and aggressive in defense. He is the best criminal defense attorney … More in the State of Texas. No reason to look elsewhere.
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I have been calling to get some legal advice pertaining to gun rights. A few legal offices would not even take my call because quote " your not a client and Im losing money. … More I I called John T. Floyd Law Firm and they were not only able to answer my question, but gave great detail information, and further elaborated on their answer. I hope I do not have to use them in the future, but if I do need to, they will be my first call.
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Great lawyer! Needed some advice and gave me a Consultation, and advice for steps to take, without any hassle l, Was a honest guy and actually wanted to help me and not just take my … More money! Highly recommend!!Positive
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Attorney Floyd replied very timely to my inquiry and he provided practical advice. I will not hesitate to contact him in the future if I need additional legal counsel.
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Highly recommend, down to earth lawyer. Talked to me about my legal issues without being super money hungry and genuinely wanted to help me with my legal problems. 5 stars ⭐️.
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Very knowledgeable and professional. I called and left a message Friday morning and before end of business that day I received a call back.Positive
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Very helpful highly recommended for any Question / case will definitely keep he's name and number for any other legal advice
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Excellent service and a lawyer that doesn't lie. He does what he says. JW recommends him.
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One of the best services Ive used in awhile. Thank you for all the help and answers. You got my life back. Thank youPositive
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Im impressed. This guy was polite and professional and most important...he listened.
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Good experience and very good lawyer
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It was a pleasure speaking with John. He is knowledgeable and has a true desire to help the people of society. I turned to him for some guidance of a long-standing issue. He never … More rushed our conversation and went out of his way to look into the details to provide the right answer as well as assist me anyway he could. Thank you for our conversations and I wish your and your firm the best. If you need a lawyer, John Floyd is your guy!
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John represented me in court for roughly 2 years. I won't (and shouldn't) get into any serious details, but let me tell you that I couldn't have chosen anyone better. … More Seriously.Every appearance in court I felt very comfortable. The judge and DA's had a high regard for his reputation. There is a time I recall where simply his presence greatly impacted the court's interpretation of my case and persons. We were in front of the stand and the judge could not stop talking about John's prestige and past accomplishments and how that took in relation to my case. I kept silent in front of the judge, but I observed then that John's popularity and reputation within the court had already given me a better looking rapport with the judge. Let me tell you, I never had more confidence then, knowing that the judge held him in such high regard.This is not to mention how personable John is. I'll be honest that during the stress of court, sharing a laugh with your lawyer helps a lot. This may sound a lot, but I really appreciated the relationship we had then. This is also not to mention that he was able to deal very well with any DA that rotated over the years. Seriously, John was great, prompt with information and very hands on with my case. I had great peace those 2 years until everything wrapped up.If you're looking for a lawyer, I highly, HIGHLY recommend the John T. Floyd Law Firm. He IS nationally renowned, you know. He'll get the job done to the utmost confidence. He's very experienced and has a great record to boot. I am glad to have had him represent me in court and trust me that I never thought I'd ever say that (and whoever does?). We explored every avenue of victory together and I personally enjoyed the experience, despite the seriousness of the accusation.If you have a case that needs to be represented at the highest levels, choose John T. Floyd. He's a good man and very good at what he does. Him and his team has the experience you need to make the best decisions and options to get the best outcome for your case. We got the best result I could possibly ask for, thank God.Seriously. Hire John. He knows what he's doing.Seriously.
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One of the few honest lawyers I have ever talked to. His complimentary consultation was knowledgeable and thorough. He knew exactly what the issue was and how to handle it. His candid … More appraisal of the situation and how to proceed saved me thousands of dollars in legal fees. If you have a case requiring expertise in John's area of practice, look no further. Hire this man!
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I had the opportunity to read an article that Mr. Floyd wrote and it was very interesting. I called him about the article and advice concerning a similar situation. He not only gave … More me excellent advice, he pointed out not just what I wanted to hear but what I needed to hear concerning my situation. The Good, The Bad and The ugly in a manner or speaking. He spoke with an open and honest heart with information to help me and not just to get a client.
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If you are in trouble and need a lawyer, contact the John T. Floyd law firm. Some of the best lawyers in Texas work there! Understanding and helpful lawyers and staff that will do all … More they can to help you 😊
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He gave me one of the most honest answers I have received in a very long time about any issue I was having with anything. Legal or not legal. I highly recommend giving him a call and … More will be referring him to friends and family if they have any issues in the future.Positive
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He took time out of his day to answer my legal questions and didn’t even charge me. I would definitely recommend him to you.
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Gave free consultation on getting gun rights back. He truly cares about gun rights and getting you the help you deserve. 100% worth a callPositive
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Very professional, great quality work, and very friendly and helpful. Overall, their service is phenomenal. I recommend Mr. Floyd to anyone.
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Mr. Floyd took the time to explain his experience with the law to me in layman's terms. Definitely give him a call.Positive
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He was honest , knowledgeable , and professional about what we talked about. Most lawyers are just about the money , but not john.Positive
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He was very truthful and honest with us very great man I would recommend him and we would use him again
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Very professional honest and works hard currently working my husband’s appeal I pray he does his best workPositive
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I contacted John T. Floyd Law firm and I was very satisfied with service extremely helpful and friendly thank you Mr. FloydPositive
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This law frim was informative,great response time ,and the attorney called back not some secretary or legal assistant thank u guys for all your help wish it was more like youPositive … More
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I would highly recommend Mr Floyd. He was very helpful and knowledge with a legal question I had.Positive
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He explained my case better then any other lawyerPositive
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Very informative
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Had the pleasure speaking with John Floyd on a personal matter, he was very responsive, nothing but exceptional, and he really cares about you with sincerity and most importantly knows … More what is he talking about! No games or bs, his approach to my situation even though I knew it was probably way smaller then what he normally takes on, he was extremely helpful and didn't care about the size of the matter like other attorneys do. He really looked out for my best interests. You can tell he has decades of experience doing what he does just by chatting with him. I would highly recommend him.
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Words can’t describe how grateful I am for working with John, he went above and beyond my expectation. I was wrongly accused and hired many lawyers before hiring John Floyd but they … More all disappointed me, I had lost hope until a friend of mine referred me to John. From the start he had my best interest in mind and gave helpful advice, he explained the process and guided me. He put more work and time than all my previous lawyers that cost me thousands of dollars. He was constantly communicating with court and defended me more than all lawyer i had hired before him. Don’t waste your time and money like I did, believe me when I say I hired countless lawyers before him and no one came close to John. I’m forever thankful for him for fighting for my innocence and getting my case dismissed. Thank you so much🙏🏼🙏🏼
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I called Mr Floyd and left a message, with in the hour I received a call back with much more information then I could have ever expected. Mr Floyd was very informative on every question … More I had for him. He seemed like he cared, instead of like most attorneys that you talk to that are just out for a quick buck. If you want someone that is going to shoot strait with you, and has your best interest in hand, this is you guy. This was the best experience that I have ever had with an lawyer.
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I can state with confidence that Mr. Floyd and his team are the most competent and professional lawyers one can hope for. My case was quite complex and I admit that as a law student … More I was not the most patient client. Mr. Floyd did a phenomenal job of managing the bench, prosecution and myself! The result was above expectation, and I will never hesitate to recommend this firm regardless of the caliber of the case at issue.
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It was a pleasure working with Mr. Floyd. I contacted him regarding a legal matter and he was extremely knowledgeable about the law, and responded in a timely manner. I appreciated … More the fact I did not feel rushed, and he made sure he thoroughly answered all questions I had. I would highly recommend him!Positive
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Spoke with John Floyd about a 45 year old criminal case I was involved in. I had very little information about the case and John helped me search what records were available and gave … More me guidance to find more information. He was very professional and took his time helping me. I may need to hire a lawyer on this case and Mr. Floyd will be the man.Thanks John.
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Very professional and straight forward. He's not going to waste your time or money. Very knowledgeable in a large range of possible matters one could face living in these days … More and times. If ever you need legal assistance, this is who I would suggest. Awesome!Positive
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I called about some legal questions I needed to get clarified and John was able to give me clarification and sound advice. I will definitely contact John for all future legal questions … More and issues.Thank you John!Positive
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Knows his stuff and well respected with DA and judges. I have referred him a couple times and every client has been satisfied
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John is beyond knowledgeable! If I decide to pursue my case any further I would only have him represent me.
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What a great attorney, this guy really took time out of his day to answer my questions and explain my case to me. Very grateful, thank you so muchPositive
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Absolutely a very professional lawyer. Very well read in the current law and more than willing to help if needed.
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Mr. John he’s a professional he knows what he’s doing and he’s patient they recommend Him stronglyPositive
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Great service, very knowledgable and happy to help with any questions I had
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Quick to action and helpful and knowledgeable with entertainment industry based issues!
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Responded on a holiday week. Very knowledgeable and reassuring.
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Very professional
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I want to thank John T. Floyd and all of his team. He is the best lawyer who cares aboutHis clients and fights really hard to get the best outcome. He is a fighter and he is awesome!!!I … More recommend if any one needs criminal defense , he is the BEST. We had a really serious caseAnd we are very thankful for the outcome. Thank you John!!!!! God bless you!!!!!!
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The attorneys at John T. Floyd Law Firm work diligently to achieve the best possible results for their clients. They are caring and knowledgeable professionals. Their expertise in the … More law and their experience as trial attorneys makes them the right choice as a defense attorney. I recommend this law firm highly.
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From beginning to end this firm handled my case like the top tier professionals they are. I would not trust ANYONE else with my legal needs after having less than stellar experiences … More with other teams. Thank you Floyd!!!
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I really felt like the team cared about my case and am super satisfied with the outcome. Would not recommend anyone else!
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These guys do amazing work and have phenomenal service! Hands down best in the Houston area!!
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John and Chris are true professionals! Love those guys like family!
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Mr. Floyd and his team are very knowledgeable, informative, and helpful.
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A team you can depend on to stand up and fight for you to prove the truth the whole truth!
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Mr. John T. Floyd represented me.I couldn't be happier with the outcome he managed to achieve on an VERY Important case that was dismissed the day of Trial. He is patient & … More very knowledgeable of the legal system. I HIGHLY recommend him to anyone in need of a lawyer!John, I am forever grateful & satisfied with the effort you put forth & all you did for me. Thank you isn't enough!God bless you & your family!
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The John T. Floyd Law Firm assisted me, and I can tell you that the attorney took the time to answer my questions, and I didn't feel rushed or dismissed as I have experienced in … More the past with attorneys. The attorney was very nice and extremely knowledgeable. Initial impressions and continued excellent customer service are big factors for me and as such I would highly recommend this firm.
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I thank you for your efforts to help Felons regain their Civil rights, and for the information on possession , I am A convicted Felon, no violent history. I am an expert shot, I am … More 76 yoa, and very concerned about the present lake of Security in our State and Country. God Bless and Prosper you in your efforts, Your friend, Sonny Bivens
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I really appreciated both Chris and John helping with my legal questions and concerns. Both are good guys and I would not hesitate to recommend them.
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Extremely helpful!!! Helping me understand the law.
John T. Floyd is Board Certified in Criminal Law By the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
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