Judge John Gleeson: A Legal Powerhouse Dedicated to Justice

Judge Gleeson's commitment to justice extends beyond individual cases. Recognized as a reformer and scholar in sentencing, he was appointed in 2022 by President Biden to the United States Sentencing Commission. This appointment reflects his dedication to ensuring a fair and just legal system, particularly in the area of sentencing.

A Judge's Quest for Justice: The Holloway Project

Judge Gleeson is the co-chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee, but his dedication goes even further with the creation of The Holloway Project. This initiative tackles a specific issue: excessively harsh sentences mandated by a federal law (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)). The Holloway Project utilizes the pro bono efforts of over 70 Debevoise lawyers, and their work has been significantly impactful. As of April 2024, they've secured sentence reductions for 56 people across the country, with an average reduction exceeding 40 years.

The project is named after Francois Holloway, who Gleeson himself sentenced to 57 years in prison for carjacking while brandishing a gun. Years later, Gleeson believed the sentence was too severe and convinced the U.S. Attorney to agree to a reduction, allowing Holloway to walk free.

Gleeson has said of sentencing Holloway, “When someone commits a robbery with a gun, the prosecutor can bring a separate charge under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) that, at the time, carried the cruelest mandatory sentencing provision. He faced more than 50 years that I had no choice but to impose.”

A Commitment to Justice

Judge John Gleeson's remarkable career is a testament to his unwavering dedication to justice. From dismantling organized crime to ensuring fair trials and advocating for sentencing reform, he has left an indelible mark on the legal landscape.

But the fight is not over. There have been recent discussions among circuit courts as to whether judges have the authority to reduce stacked § 924(c) sentences. And some wonder how a possible new administration would impact this debate.

Judge Gleeson, however, is committed to helping as many people as he can no matter what life - and the law - may throw at him. 

 “Our clients were serving breathtakingly long sentences that Congress never intended and had now abolished; though their offense conduct was serious, in almost all cases no one was hurt and little was stolen; most had received the sentences as a penalty for refusing to cooperate and/or for exercising the right to trial; they demonstrated extraordinary efforts to rehabilitate themselves in custody; and most were Black men who’d been subjected to a cruel mandatory enhancement that had been invoked by DOJ in a racially discriminatory fashion for decades. Really, what could be more extraordinary and compelling than that?”

I have written about super criminal justice advocates such as Mark Osler, MiAngel Cody, Brittany K. Barnett, Rachel Barkow, and Jane Anne Murray.  But it really strikes me that Gleeson was a federal judge, because—in my eyes, at least—so many federal judges seem to be prosecutors with robes, who fail to apply common sense to sentencing.  

Many judges dogmatically adhere to suggested Guideline ranges—no matter how absurdly high—as well as impose excessive sentences because they are bound by a mandatory minimum, without ever speaking out against the flawed sentencing law.

So when I see a former prosecutor such as Mark Osler or a former federal judge such as John Gleeson taking a standing against unduly harsh sentencing laws or practices, it's really refreshing and encouraging. 

I truly admire people like that.