This Week in Gangland: The Online Column.  Jerry Capeci.  May 12, 2005.

http://www.ganglandnews.com/column432.htm 
Persico lawyer Linda Sheffield declined to disclose his ailments but reported
that his hospitalization appeared to be precautionary, caused by his relocation
earlier this year to the Big Sandy Penitentiary in Inez, Kentucky, a remote area
about 140 miles east of Lexington.

This Week in Gangland: The Online Column.  Jerry Capeci. March 4, 2004.
http://www.ganglandnews.com/column372.htm
In a strong letter to Judge Federick Block, [Vittorio] Amuso lawyer Linda Sheffield
stressed that the mob chieftain has no evidence to impart in the case, and will
not testify, period.  "Mr. Amuso (has) heart and blood pressure problems (and)
has no intention of testifying at the trial and will invoke his Fifth Amendment
privilege against self incrimination if called."

Press Release.  William Mayo to Continue 13-Year Fight for Freedom from
Wrongful Conviction at Habeas Corpus Hearing in Calhoun, Georgia. 
http://www.freemayo.com/PC‑Pressreleanse5‑16.doc

ATLANTA (May 16, 2005)
Mayo, through Attorney Linda S. Sheffield, filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus
on January 27, 2005 asking the Judge to grant a new trial and overturn his
conviction B due to a violation of his constitutional rights at the hands of Cobb
County Assistant DA Pearlberg.  The Writ of Habeas Corpus is scheduled for
evidentiary hearing on June 10, 2005, before The Honorable Judge Cato,
Superior Court of Calhoun County.

New York Daily News
Junior Gotti Takes Fifth at Strip Club Trial.  Greg B. Smith.  May 18, 2001.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nydailynews/access/73117620.html?dids=
73117620:73117620&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+18%2C+2001&
author=GREG+B.+SMITH+DAILY+NEWS+STAFF+WRITER&pub=New+York+Daily
+News&edition=&startpage=20&desc=JUNIOR+GOTTI+TAKES+FIFTH+AT+STRIP
+CLUB+TRIAL

Gotti's lawyers Richard Rehbock and Linda Sheffield, have said any question is
a potential perjury trap and that Gotti's answers could be used against him in
later prosecutions.  They have advised Gotti not to talk.

CNN
Lawyer: 'Junior' Gotti to take Fifth in Gold Club Case.  Art Harris.  May 6, 2001.

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/05/05/gold.club/index.html

Convicted mobster John A. "Junior" Gotti won't cooperate in the racketeering
case against a prominent Atlanta strip club, his lawyer said.
"He will be taking the Fifth Amendment," Gotti's attorney, Linda Sheffield, told
CNN. "We don't believe there are any circumstances that can compel him to
testify. We don't know why he was called."

NEW  FEDERAL HABEAS FILING DEADLINE RULING IN STATE CASES, BY U.S. SUPREME COURT

On February 20, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case Lawrence v. Florida, 05-8820, holding that filing a certiorari petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging a state court's denial of post conviction relief, does not toll the one-year statute of limitations period for filing a federal habeas corpus petition.  This tolling decision applies only to filings for collateral, relief and does not apply to direct review filings for certiorari.

STATES ALLOWED TO EXPAND CRIMINAL RIGHTS

Danforth v. Minnesota, (06-8273), was decided by U.S. Supreme Court 2/20/08. The Supreme Court ruled that states, under their own laws or constitutions, may give state prisoners retroactive benefits of Supreme Court criminal law decisions, even if the Court itself has ruled they are not retroactive under federal law.  The question the Court resolved was whether Teague v. Lane, which brought about the so-called "Teague formula", constrained the states to give broader effect to new rules of criminal procedure than is required by that opinion.  The Supreme Court held that Teague does not constrain the states.