The U.S. Supreme Court is set to review whether federal judges can take an inmate's innocence claim into account when deciding on sentence reductions under the First Step Act. The case arose when Joe Fernandez, convicted of two murders he maintains he did not commit, sought compassionate release that was initially granted but later reversed by the 2nd Circuit Court. The appeals court ruled that potential innocence is not an 'extraordinary and compelling reason' to reduce a sentence, sparking debate on judicial discretion and the implications of justice and fairness.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider whether federal judges can grant reduced sentences based on an inmate's claim of potential innocence under the First Step Act.
This case marks a significant examination of how innocence claims should influence sentencing under federal law, especially in the context of the First Step Act.
Fernandez's potential innocence, coupled with his sentence discrepancy compared to co-defendants, raises important questions about the application of justice and compassion in sentencing.
The 2nd Circuit maintained that potential innocence claims cannot constitute 'extraordinary and compelling reasons' for reduced sentences, a stance being challenged in the Supreme Court.
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