Congress Cosiders Lesser Sentences For Crack Cocaine

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by jtdc

When you use my own argument against me, that's going too far.

I admit, I argue like a girl.

[David]

Looks like the SCOTUS will deal with this question.

Wash Post
SOURCE

Supreme Court to Review Judges' Discretion in Cocaine Sentences

By Charles Lane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 12, 2007; A08

The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will hear a case on whether judges can consider the alleged unfairness of a federal law regarding sentences for selling crack and powder cocaine when deciding on jail time for such crimes.

The justices will not rule on the constitutionality of a 21-year-old federal law that gives first-time offenders convicted of selling five grams of crack cocaine the same five-year mandatory prison sentence as dealers of 500 grams of powder cocaine. Still, given the opposition to the crack sentencing law among many federal judges, the court's ruling could have a significant national impact.