First Step Act
Coverage of First Step Act in the Nexus archive.
- The administrative agency cases were not the court’s only significant separation of powers decisions this term
The Supreme Court limited federal courts' authority to grant compassionate release under the First Step Act in Rutherford v. United States and Fernandez v. United States. The decisions emphasized Congress's role in criminal law and restricted lower courts from overriding Congressional judgments. The rulings addressed statutory interpretations of 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c) and abrogated prior appellate court decisions allowing broad judicial discretion in sentence reductions.
- The Supreme Court’s neutering of the First Step Act
The Supreme Court has limited the First Step Act's impact through decisions narrowing its provisions, including the safety valve and compassionate release criteria. Cases like Pulsifer v. United States and Rutherford v. United States restricted the Act's ability to provide individualized sentencing relief to incarcerated individuals.
- White House ballroom battle may soon arrive at the Supreme Court
The Trump administration argues that construction of a $400 million White House ballroom cannot be stopped, while the National Trust for Historic Preservation challenges the project's legal basis. The Supreme Court may soon rule on the case, alongside other pending decisions including restrictions on media access to executions and limits on early prison release under the First Step Act.
- A random assortment of relists: prolonged detention, confessions of error, small juries, and new rules on habeas
The Supreme Court addressed multiple relisted cases, including a summary reversal in a death-row inmate's case due to improper post-trial DNA evidence consideration, granted review in a First Step Act habeas corpus case, and denied petitions in immigration detention and state tax disputes. Justice Thomas dissented in several cases, arguing over procedural and jurisdictional issues.
- Court asked to bar Alabama from using state’s preferred map
Alabama has requested the Supreme Court to allow use of a congressional map deemed racially discriminatory by a lower court. The plaintiffs opposing the map submitted responses, followed by Alabama's reply, with the justices potentially acting soon. The court also denied a stay of execution for Andrew Lukehart, scheduled for execution in Florida.
- Justices send case of death-row inmate back to lower courts, grant new First Step Act case
The Supreme Court sent a Florida death-row inmate's case back to lower courts and granted a new case involving the First Step Act. The case involves an inmate seeking transfer to a halfway house under the Act, with the Court to decide on the legal approach.