The next US Attorney General

According to press reports here and here, Alberto Gonzales will replace John Ashcroft as attorney general.  As I noted last night here, the modern story of federal sentencing — from the Feeney Amendment to Blakely and Booker/Fanfan — is a major part of legacy of Ashcroft’s tenure as head of the Justice Department.  It will be very interesting to watch how Gonzales, who will be the first Hispanic attorney general, will deal with the Blakely mess and other federal sentencing issues.