U.S. Sentencing Commission votes for changes to crack cocaine sentencing guidlines

WASHINGTON, D.C.: For the first time in 12 years, the U.S. Sentencing Commission has approved guideline changes to federal crack cocaine penalties, tonight by a 6-1 vote. The amendment affects approximately 78 percent of defendants convicted of crack cocaine offenses, reducing their sentences by an average of 16 months. It will now be sent to Congress on May 1, 2007, along with other proposed sentencing amendments. Read on...http://abolishmentmovement.mywowbb.com/view_topic.php?id=2954&forum_id=22

Supreme Court Rejects Three Death Sentences

T he following story is about Texas Courts, and making big mistakes. Three inmate's death sentence cases were thrown out of court Monday because the Courts were at fault.

Texas has executed twelve defendents already this year. How many of those executed were denied a fair sentencing? How many of those had "migrating" factors, that could have resulted in life sentencing rather than death?

I know of one already, that of Roy Pippen, whose lawyer claimed his migrating evidence was "kill or be killed". But that was overlooked and Roy was executed on March 29, 2007.

I suppose if every case was looked over thourougly, they will find many lives that could have been spared.
Heres the story:

The Supreme Court rejected three death row sentences on Monday. The ruling 5-4 stated that the courts reviewing the cases failed to follow the guidance of the high court. Both the New Orleans based 5th circuit court and the Texas Court of Appeals incorrectly analyzed "whether faulty jury instructions prevented Texas jurors from considering migrating evidence that might have persuaded them to spare the men from execution," as reported by the Houston Chronicle, Washington Bureau. The three men involved were Jalil-Abdul-Kabir, Brent Brewer, and LaRoyce Smith.

Read on...http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/226492/three_death_sentences_rejected_more.html

Scott Panetti, Mentally Ill On Texas Death Row

Dressed in costume like one of the actors in an old Western Movie, with a big brimmed cowboy hat hanging on his shoulders by the strap, plaid shirt, bandana, fancy cowboy boots, and spurs, Scott Panetti proceeded to defend himself, playing out the role of lawyer. The prevailing judge, Ables allowed his court to be turned into a three ring circus as jurors watched, stunned at what they were seeing and hearing, some fearing the man they watched before them.
No, this isn't the makings of a Hollywood movie, this is a Texas courtroom in 1995, with defendant Scott Panetti on trial for the shot gun murders of his parents-inlaws, attempting to play the role of attorney, in his own Capital murder trial. The trial resulted in a death sentence.

Read on:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/211156/scott_panetti_mentaly_ill_on_texas.html