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Supreme court to review terms in crack cases

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 12, 2007

WASHINGTON

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to review whether judges are required to impose significantly longer sentences for crack cocaine than for cocaine powder. The justices said they would hear the case of Derrick Kimbrough in the fall. Kimbrough, who is a veteran of the first war with Iraq in 1991, got a 15-year term for dealing both crack and powder cocaine, as well as possessing a firearm in Norfolk, Va. That was shorter than the federal sentencing guidelines that called for a range of 19 to 22 years in prison. At Kimbrough's sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Raymond Jackson said the higher range was "ridiculous." The government appealed the sentence.

Bush to make plea for immigration bill

President Bush is putting his influence within his own party to the test today as he pleads personally with skeptical Senate Republicans to resurrect his immigration bill. Despite a confident tone Monday about the measure's fate, Bush faces a hostile audience that has shown little appetite for following his lead on the contentious issue. Bush left no room for the possibility that his bid to legalize up to 12-million unlawful immigrants while tightening border security - among his top domestic priorities - might die. "I'll see you at the bill signing, " he said while traveling in Bulgaria.

[Last modified June 12, 2007, 00:05:31]