United States Sentencing Commission
The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency within the judicial branch of the United States and is responsible for the definition of mandatory principles for sentencing in federal courts jurisdiction. The Commission adopts the Federal Sentencing Guidelines , which replace the previous system based on the discretion of the judge.
The Congress has the Commission in 1984 with the Comprehensive Crime Control Act created. The constitutionality of the authority was confirmed in the judgment on the Mistretta v. United Statess affirms, in which the Supreme Court ruled that Congress has the power to delegate the setting of sentencing guidelines to an independent authority.
The commission consists of seven voting members who are appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate for a term of six years. Renewed appointments after the end of the term of office are permitted. No more than three of the members may be federal judges and no more than four may belong to the same political party. The Attorney General and the Chairman of the United States Parole Commission are also ex officio members of the commission.
Current members
| Surname | job | Appointed |
|---|---|---|
| Ricardo H. Hinojosa (Chairman) | Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | June 26, 2003 |
| Ruben Castillo (Deputy) | Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | November 12, 1999 |
| William K. Sessions III (Deputy) | Judge, United States District Court for the District of Vermont | November 12, 1999 |
| John R. Steer (Vice chair) | former legal advisor to the Commission | November 12, 1999 |
| Dabney Friedrich (member) | former White House legal advisor | March 1, 2007 |
| Beryl A. Howell (member) | Managing Director of Stroz Friedberg, LLC | November 21, 2004 |
| Michael E. Horowitz (member) | Partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft | June 26, 2003 |
| Benton J. Campbell (ex officio) | Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division | |
| Edward F. Reilly, Jr. (ex officio) | Chairman of the US Parole Commission |