Astute views from the district court about post-Booker sentencing realities

As noted in this prior post, today the US Sentencing Commission started yet another one of its regional public hearings.  This fourth regional public hearing is taking place in Chicago, and this official agenda details the a fascinating group of invited witnesses scheduled to testify.  And now some of the submitted written testimony is linked via the agenda. 

Though I would recommend that everyone read all of the linked submitted testimony now available this official agenda, I want to put in a special plug for the submissions from the district judges.  In various way, all the realities of sentencing "cash out" in front of sentencing judges, and thus the insights and concerns expressed by federal district judges seem especially important.  And, based on my quick scan, the insights and concerns expressed by these district judges testifying this morning in Chicago seem especially astute and worthy of this blog shout out:

• Testimony of James F. Holderman, Jr., Chief District Judge, Northern District of Illinois
• Testimony of Jon P. McCalla, Chief District Judge, Western District of Tennessee
• Testimony of Philip Peter Simon, District Judge, Northern District of Indiana