Lafayette Reporter

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Judge John Gleeson, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, to discuss the recent breakdown in bipartisan decision-making at the Commission.

During the meeting, Kennedy expressed his concerns about the partisan direction that the Commission has taken in recent years. The Commission has deviated from its traditional bipartisan practices by implementing several major policy changes to federal sentencing rules on a party-line basis.

Gleeson acknowledged these concerns and confirmed that the Commission will return to making changes on a bipartisan basis.

“We’re talking about public safety and the rule of law here, and I’m very, very glad to hear that the Commission is returning to its history of making changes only when there’s bipartisan agreement. I look forward to seeing the fruits of this commitment,” said Kennedy.

In April, Kennedy introduced the Consensus in Sentencing Act to require the U.S. Sentencing Commission to achieve bipartisan agreement for major policy changes. The legislation would amend 28 U.S.C. § 994(a) to require amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines receive five votes from the Commission’s seven voting members.

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