2005
Judges, former U.S. attorneys, general and prosecutors seek sentencing change in Weldon Angelos case
Four former U.S. attorneys general and numerous other former prosecutors and judges have taken a stand against mandatory sentencing laws in a Utah case that could affect sentencing in federal cases. The "friend of the court" brief, filed with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, was signed by former attorneys general Janet Reno, Benjamin Civiletti, Griffin Bell and Nicholas Katzenbach, former FBI director William S. Sessions and other former prosecutors and judges, including 150 ex-Justice Department officials.
The brief comes a day after U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said too many criminals are getting light sentences. Four of his predecessors, however, told the federal court Wednesday that mandatory sentencing laws can result in unconstitutionally long prison terms. The stand taken by these justice heavyweights was applauded by groups who have fought to change mandatory sentencing.
Click here to read the appeals brief filed in Weldon Angelos's case (File is in Adobe pdf format.)
Click here to read the Angelos amicus brief signed by four former U.S. attorneys general, former prosecutors and judges (File is in Adobe pdf format.)