PHILADELPHIA, January 31, 2023—Duane Morris LLP partner Leigh M. Skipper has been appointed to the United States Sentencing Commission’s Practitioner Advisory Group (PAG) as an at large voting member for a two-year term. Skipper will provide consultation and comment to the PAG on the Sentencing Commission’s priorities and practices.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission, a bipartisan, independent agency located in the judicial branch of government, was created by Congress in 1984 to reduce sentencing disparities and promote transparency and proportionality in sentencing. The PAG was established pursuant to the statutory authority of 28 USC 944(o) that the Sentencing Commission “shall consult with authorities on, and individual, and institutional representatives of, various aspects of the Federal criminal justice system…”
Skipper practices in the area of litigation. Prior to joining Duane Morris, he served as the chief federal defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. During his tenure, he oversaw one of the largest federal defender offices in the country and was responsible for the training, strategy and supervision of more than 65 attorneys as well as investigators, technology and administrative support staff in the trial, appellate and capital habeas units. Skipper successfully defended hundreds of cases involving fraud, tax, corruption, drug and other offenses and tried approximately 35 federal jury trials. He was responsible for the training, management and selection of the attorneys on the Criminal Justice Act Panel and was accountable for all operational matters, including budgetary and personnel decisions.
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