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Article: Justice says prison terms too long 'In too many cases, mandatory minimum sentences . . . unjust'
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- August 10, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2003 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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SAN FRANCISCO--Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said
Saturday that prison terms are too long and that he favors scrapping
the practice of setting mandatory minimum sentences for some federal
crimes.
"Our resources are misspent, our punishments too severe, our
sentences too long," Kennedy said in remarks prepared for delivery to
the annual meeting of the American Bar Association.
"I can accept neither the necessity nor the wisdom of federal
mandatory minimum sentences," Kennedy said. "In too many cases,
mandatory minimum sentences are unwise or unjust."
Kennedy is a moderate conservative placed on the court by former
President Ronald Reagan. His criticism puts him at odds with ...