Supreme Court Rules on First Step Act’s Lenient Penalties
- Justice Samuel Alito confirmed to Supreme Court in 2006.
- Justice Alito attends Trump inauguration ceremonies.
- Biden greets Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson poses in her chambers.
- Justice Thomas and Alito at ceremony for O’Connor.
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wears a unique collar.
Justice Samuel Alito confirmed to Supreme Court in 2006.
The U.S. Supreme Court has officially ruled on the First Step Act. The ruling allows offenders such as Tony Hewitt, Corey Duffey, and Jarvis Ross, who received over 325 years for bank robbery with a firearm in 2009, to access more lenient sentences due to their vacated sentences. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson authored the majority opinion, stating that the First Step Act applies to offenders with vacated sentences because a vacated sentence “is not imposed.”
Justice Alito attends Trump inauguration ceremonies.
The Court concluded that the Act's guidelines extend to any defendant who is resentenced after the Act took effect. Jackson said, "only past sentences with continued validity preclude application of the Act's new penalties."
Biden greets Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Jackson wrote, "We hold that, under that circumstance, a sentence 'has not been imposed' for purposes of §403(b). Thus, the First Step Act's more lenient penalties apply."
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson poses in her chambers.
In dissent, Justice Samuel Alito argued that the majority's broad interpretation of the First Step Act contradicts congressional intent by allowing any vacated sentence to qualify for relief. Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined in his dissent.
Justice Thomas and Alito at ceremony for O’Connor.
Alito wrote that the Court has embraced "an interpretation that has no limiting principle and affords petitioners a windfall." He added, "That is an indefensible result based on indefensible reasoning. I cannot agree with the Court's decision, so I must respectfully dissent."
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wears a unique collar.
The Supreme Court reversed the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ interpretation and remanded the case for further proceedings, clarifying that defendants resentenced after the First Step Act’s enactment are eligible for its sentencing reductions.
Roger Anderson covers U.S. politics & news for content partner Modern Newsstand LLC.
