Ashcroft Orders Tally Of Light Sentencing

[Rose Siding]

Critics Say He Wants 'Blacklist' of Judges

Attorney General John D. Ashcroft has ordered U.S. attorneys across the country to become much more aggressive in reporting to the Justice Department cases in which federal judges impose lighter sentences than called for in sentencing guidelines.

The directive, contained in a July 28 memo from Ashcroft, is the latest salvo in an escalating battle over how much discretion federal judges should have in handing down sentences in criminal cases. The more extensive reporting will lay the groundwork for the Justice Department to appeal many more of those sentencing decisions than it has.

snip>

Ashcroft's critics reacted angrily to the memo, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) accused Ashcroft of engaging in an "ongoing attack on judicial independence" and of requiring federal prosecutors "to participate in the establishment of a blacklist of judges who impose lesser sentences than those recommended by the sentencing guidelines."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25892-2003Aug6.html

[pfitz59]

1. Crossing boundaries again.

When will the Judicial BRANCH of the government stand up to these freaks? Ashcroft is a menace......

[geomon]

8. Some have ...

there are judges who are against mandatory minimuns..thats why AssKKKroft is pissed..

[private_ryan]

2. reason #1 we should back any dem who's running in 2004

you will not agree 100% with any one candidate.

[smaug]

10. Yes

This is the point of being a member of a political party; I don't agree 100% with any of the current candidates, but the criminal disasters that the BFEE has perpetrated on our country should not be allowed past 2004.

Impeach the Deserter in Chief: Vote Democratic!

[shanti]

3. more mccarthyism, eh, asscrack?

he's so transparent...

[JohnKleeb]

4. To the not so honorable John Ashcroft your mail

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:
and heres to the patriot act
:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Wink]

5. Let's start with prosecutors who didn't go after *

He didn't even have a trial for insider trading. That's a pretty light sentence.

[this_side_up]

6. the JA is

number 1.

He let the (Worldcom?) guy off with the 750 million
he stole and currently lives it up in his 100 million mansion.

And what about Kennyboy and Skilling and Ebbers and the rest
of them? Oh, I get it. Idiot Martha Stewart takes their place.

[Julien Sorel]

7. A control freak administration twists the reins a little

tighter.

[Jacobin]

9. Disconnect with reality

Jails are overflowing with the convicted. We have a larger percentage of our population in jail than ANY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD!

WTF is Asscrack thinking? nevermind...he's not thinking. He's just spewing bile and venom.