Supreme Court will consider whether federal courts can reduce sentences based on innocence claim

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Supreme Court docket will take into account whether or not federal…

U.S. Supreme Court docket

Supreme Court docket will take into account whether or not federal courts can scale back sentences based mostly on innocence declare

By Debra Cassens Weiss

Might 28, 2025, 12:03 pm CDT

The U.S. Supreme Court docket agreed Tuesday to contemplate whether or not federal judges can take into account an inmate’s declare of potential innocence when weighing whether or not to grant a lowered sentence underneath the First Step Act.

The Supreme Court docket mentioned it will determine whether or not elements that will justify vacating a conviction may represent “extraordinary and compelling causes” for decreasing a sentence.

SCOTUSblog and Law360 have protection; the cert petition is right here.

Federal prisoner Joe Fernandez requested the Supreme Court docket to listen to his case after the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals at New York reversed a choice that lowered his sentence to time served. Fernandez, who’s serving a life sentence for 2 murders that he claims that he by no means dedicated, had sought “compassionate launch” underneath the First Step Act.

The federal decide who granted launch to Fernandez had thought-about his potential innocence based mostly on credibility issues associated to the federal government’s key witness and his far-longer sentence when in comparison with different co-defendants.

The 2nd Circuit mentioned potential innocence is rarely a permissible “extraordinary and compelling cause” for a lowered sentence, and such claims can solely be introduced in a direct enchantment or habeas proceedings. The appeals courtroom additionally mentioned the sentencing disparity couldn’t be thought-about absent “uncommon circumstances.”

Legal professionals for Fernandez argue that the First Step Act offers judges broad discretion to cut back sentences, whereas the federal government says the 2nd Circuit was right. The federal government additionally notes new coverage by the U.S. Sentencing Fee that claims judges can’t take into account “asserted invalidity of a conviction or sentence” when granting compassionate launch.

See additionally:

In uncommon lineup, SCOTUS guidelines for professional se prisoner who sought decrease sentence underneath First Step Act

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