A preview of USSC crack retroactivity vote

As spotlighted here, the US Sentencing Commission has this public meeting scheduled for 3:30pm today, at which it seems likely to resolve whether its new crack guidelines can be applied retroactively.  A few new stories covering this consequential issue include this AP story, ” Panel Weighs Easing Old Crack Sentences,” and this ABC News piece, “Panel to Consider Crack Sentence Reductions.”

Here is an abridged account of some of my prior blog coverage:

• USSC hearing testimony on crack amendment retroactivity
• A report on the USSC crack retroactivity hearing
• Media coverage of crack retroactivity hearing
• Inside the Beltway views on crack amendment retroactivity
• Effective coverage of crack retroactivity debate
• USSC analysis on potential crack amendment retroactivity impact
• Thoughtful review of crack amendment retroactivity debate
• A retroactive litmus test on leading Democratic candidates
• Seeking to clear up Clintonian confusion on crack retroactivity
• More questions about Clinton’s opposition to crack guideline retroactivity
• Latest FSR issue covers crack sentencing

No matter what the USSC decides this afternoon, this story is going to march on.  There will surely be a lot of lower court litigation (and likely some disparate legal rulings) regardless of whether the USSC makes its new crack guidelines retroactive.  But, critically, what the USSC decides will set the terms of debate and the broader tone of this inevitable litigation.