Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mistretta v. United States case brief

Mistretta v. United States case brief
488 U.S. 361, 109 S. Ct. 647, 102 L. Ed. 2d 714 (1989)

CASE SYNOPSIS: On writ of certiorari before judgment to the United State Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, petitioner challenged the decision of the court in order to consider the constitutionality of the Sentencing Guidelines promulgated by the United States Sentencing Commission under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984.

FACTS: Petitioner and respondent both requested certiorari before judgment was rendered to consider the constitutionality of the Sentencing Guidelines promulgated by the United States Sentencing Commission. The Commission was created under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (Act), 18 U.S.C.S. § 3551 et seq. (1982 ed., Supp. IV) and 28 U.S.C.S. §§ 991-998 (1982 ed., Supp. IV). The trial court rejected petitioner's contention that the Act was unconstitutional.

DISCUSSION:

  • On appeal, petitioner's first contention was that Congress had granted the Commission excessive legislative discretion. 
  • The Supreme Court did not agree. 
  • The Court found that Congress had provided guidelines under which the Commission was to operate and that it had not delegated excessive legislative power to another branch of government. 
  • The Court also found that Congress had not upset the constitutionally mandated balance of powers among the branches of government. 
  • The Court concluded that the Act was constitutional and therefore affirmed the trial court's decision.

CONCLUSION: The Court affirmed the decision of the trial court that convicted petitioner under the Sentencing Guidelines when the Court found the Sentence Reform Act of 1984 was constitutional because Congress did not delegate excessive legislative power or upset the constitutionally mandated balance of powers among the coordinate branches of government.


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