Court: U.S. sentencing rules must be changed

[CornField]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6816943/

Juries should decide if longer sentence merited, justices rule

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that federal judges have been improperly adding time to criminals' sentences, a decision that puts in doubt longtime sentencing rules.

The court, on a 5-4 vote, said that its ruling last June that juries — not judges — should consider factors that can add years to defendants' prison sentences applies as well to the 17-year-old federal guideline system.

[no_to_war_economy]

1. take that ! Ashcroft

we need court reform NOT tort reform

[What Is This Crap]

2. didnt ashcroft resign?

Anyways this makes sense in terms of being in line with the principle that judges cant turn life sentence recommendations into the death penalty.

[NYC]

3. I think his resignation isn't effective yet.

I'm not sure.