The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could reshape how mandatory minimum sentences are applied in federal drug offenses. The case challenges the constitutionality of sentencing enhancements based solely on prior arrest records rather than convictions.
Legal scholars say a ruling in favor of the petitioner could affect thousands of currently incarcerated individuals and prompt Congress to revisit sentencing guidelines that have been in place for decades.
Both prosecution and defense organizations are filing amicus briefs, making this one of the most closely watched criminal law cases of the term.
