Fernandez v. United States · ¶38

An argument that is compelling in one context is not necessarily so in another; the force of an argument depends on what it seeks to justify. For instance, a 25th wedding anniversary is a convincing reason to shorten a business trip, but it is not a convincing reason to shorten a prison sentence. So here, we do not ask in the abstract whether a challenge to the validity of a conviction is “compelling.” We ask whether it is an especially convincing reason to grant the relief sought: compassionate release from prison.

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