Judge John Gleeson: A Legal Powerhouse Dedicated to Justice

My name is Joshua Bevill.  I'm serving a 30-year federal prison sentence for a low-level, nonviolent offense.  I've been in prison for nearly 15 years.  During my time on the frontlines I've witnessed up close and personal the human toll of injustice, which comes in many forms.

Among many other related pursuits, I routinely write about remarkable people who help rectify injustice, as well as help shine a light on the dark corners of the American justice system.

I now turn my attention to a remarkable man. 

Judge John Gleeson's legal career is a masterclass in dedication and achievement. Spanning over four decades, his journey has taken him from the trenches of federal prosecution to the honored bench of a district judge, and finally to the esteemed halls of Debevoise & Plimpton as a sought-after litigator.

Dismantling the Mafia and Championing Due Process

Judge Gleeson's early career as a federal prosecutor in Brooklyn was nothing short of remarkable. For a decade he relentlessly pursued organized crime, eventually taking down the high-profile Mafia bosses John Gotti and Victor Orena. His relentless pursuit of Gotti, documented in his book "The Gotti Wars: Taking Down America's Most Notorious Mobster" (Scribner 2022), dismantled the power structure of the Gambino crime family. These victories earned him the prestigious Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award.

In 1994, Judge Gleeson transitioned to the bench, serving as a U.S. District Judge in the Eastern District of New York for 22 years. Here, his commitment to upholding the law and ensuring fairness shone through. He authored over 1,500 published opinions, including 14 for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, demonstrating his exceptional legal mind. 

He also co-authored the widely used treatise Federal Criminal Practice: A Second Circuit Handbook (LexisNexis), which is now in its 23rd edition. In her Foreword to the Tenth Edition, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg described the treatise as “a gift for judges in the Second Circuit,” a “labor of love” that she was pleased is “available to all who compose the bar and bench of ‘my’ circuit.”

Bringing Decades of Experience to Complex Matters

Since joining Debevoise & Plimpton in 2016, Judge Gleeson has seamlessly transitioned his vast legal experience into the private sector. He serves as a litigation partner, specializing in white-collar defense, complex civil litigation, internal investigations, and dispute resolution. His expertise is highly sought after, with Chambers USA ranking him in Band 1 for White-Collar and Government Investigations, and clients praising him as "a leading light of the Bar with impeccable judgment." He has argued numerous appeals, tried complex commercial cases in various courts, and served as a mediator, arbitrator, and expert witness.

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.