Supreme Court Upholds Judge’s Discretion In Drug Crimes

SUPREME COURT (AP) - The Supreme Court has ruled that judges do have the option to impose shorter prison terms for drug crimes.

The court decided, by a 7-2 vote, that a 15-year sentence given to Derrick Kimbrough was acceptable.

Federal guidelines called for a tougher 19 to 22 year sentence.

The ruling gives judges the discretion to reduce the disparity between sentences for crack and powder cocaine.

Congress set a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence for trafficking in 5 grams of crack cocaine. One hundred times as much cocaine powder gets the same sentence.