Monday, August 02, 2004

Fourth Circuit says USSG not invalidated by Blakely

Sentencing Law and Policy has this post about today's same-day ruling by the Fourth Circuit on the validity of the federal sentencing guidelines, and quotes from a reader who said: "The Fourth Circuit, mere hours after hearing en banc argument in US v. Hammoud, holds that it will not overturn the Federal Sentencing Guidelines in that case. It has issued an order to that effect, with opinions to follow later. District courts are also instructed ('recommended') to issue alternative sentences, in the event the Guidelines are not mandatory."

BTQ has this account of the play-by-play at oral argument before the en banc court.

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