The sentencing disparity between crack and powdered cocaine has long been a controversial one. Many critics say the law is unfair and targets the black community. But some federal agents and prosecutors argue that crack is far more likely to be associated with violence, and consequently should carry tougher penalties. By Lawrence Buser Memphis Commercial…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Fighting an uphill battle, and acknowledging the daunting task before him, Atty. Gen. Eric Holder Jr. announced on Wednesday in Los Angeles a $8.7 million grant to help local law enforcement in California fight the deadly drug war along the U.S.-Mexico border. “We are intensifying our efforts to investigate, extradite,…
The Supreme Court decision seemed to fly in the face of logic. Why wouldn’t an inmate be entitled to a scientific test to assure that everything was done beyond a reasonable doubt? Even if it frees 1 in 1,000 inmates or 1 in 10,000, that should be reason enough to give inmates the right to…
Sen. Orrin Hatch-official photo Federal law enforcement always feels it’s better to be over prepared for something and come with too many agents rather than too few agents. But is there such a thing as over kill? Some politicians like Orrin Hatch apparently think so. By Nicholas Riccardi Los Angeles Times DENVER — Sen. Orrin…
It’s not unusual for current administrations to undo some of the last minute rulings of the previous regime. Here’s one that will certainly be applauded by civil rights and immigration rights organizations. The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times WASHINGTON –Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. today vacated a ruling issued in the waning days of…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — The long awaited replacement of U.S. Attorneys around the country could begin soon. We’ll see how bi-partisan the selections are. Josh Gerstein of Politico reports that Atty. Gen Eric Holder told the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday: “I expect that we’ll have an announcement in the next couple of…
It might be just a little ironic that the integrity of the Public Integrity Unit is on shaky ground these days. This once elite unit has taken a beating of late and the Atty. General knows he’s got a lot of work to do to turn things around. By CHARLIE SAVAGE New York Times WASHINGTON…
In recent months, federal judges have chastised federal prosecutors around the country including in Washington, Miami and Montana. The newly minted Atty. General Eric Holder Jr. has vowed to address this. Joe Palazzolo The National Law Journal WASHINGTON — In his first confab with the nation’s chief federal district judges, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr….
