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Might the US Sentencing Commission have any notable guideline amendments in the works?

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this official announcement, "a public meeting of the [U.S. Sentencing] Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at 11:30 a.m."  And, on the official agenda is "Possible Votes to Publish Guideline Amendments and Issues for Comment."  I have not heard any advance buzz about any major guideline amendments in the works.  But, as eagle-eyed readers may have learned from this post linking to this recent this fascinating Q&A interview,  now-former US Sentencing Commissioner John Steer has stated that, before he left the commission, he "provided my colleagues with a draft amendment to accomplish" the objective of ending the requirement that acquitted conduct be used in determining the guideline range.  I would be quite excited (and somewhat surprised) if the USSC has an amendment dealing with acquitted conduct in the works...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on January 06, 2009 (boomark / email).