Experience > Criminal Examples

Conspiracy (Section-2255 Petition)
Valencia v. United States, No. 04-1159 (6th Cir. 2006). As an attorney at Jones Day, Mills represented Tobias Valencia after his federal conviction for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. As lead counsel, Mills argued Valencia's appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Death Penalty: Ineffective-Assistance Claim
Nixon v. Epps, Nos. 05-5681, 05-7952 (U.S. 2005). As an attorney at Jones Day, Mills represented John Nixon, a Mississippi man sentenced to death, in federal-habeas proceedings. Mills drafted various briefs to the Fifth Circuit and to the United States Supreme Court. Mills also met with Nixon on Mississippi's death row.

Death Penalty: Ineffective-Assistance Claim
Slaughter v. Parker, No. 01-6359 (6th Cir. 2007). Mills advised Judge Cole regarding an en-banc petition raising an ineffective-assistance claim. Read the New York Times's coverage here.

Death Penalty: Invalid-Aggravator Claim
Wilson v. Mitchell, 03-3362 (6th Cir. 2007). Mills advised Judge Cole regarding a habeas appeal challenging a jury instruction related to an aggravating factor. Read Judge Cole's opinion for the court here.

Sentencing Appeals Related to U.S. v. Booker
United States v. Fuson, No. 05-3782 (6th Cir. 2007). Mills advised Judge Cole regarding the United States' appeal of a downward variance in a defendant's sentence. Read Judge Cole's opinion for the court here.