Background on AG Gonzales' proposed Booker fix

In coming posts, I will have lots to say (and lots of questions) about Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' major policy speech on Tuesday in which, as detailed here, he advocated Booker legislation fix in the form of "the construction of a minimum guideline system."  But before dissecting the speech, I can provide links to early news coverage from the Washington Post, the AP, the New York Times, and Knight Ridder.

It seems the so-called "minimum guideline system" advocated by AG Gonzales is a version of (or variation on) what had been called the Bowman proposal or topless guidelines in the wake of Blakely, and also what has been proposed in section 12 of a drug sentencing bill, known as HR 1528, that surfaced and received subcommittee approval in the House of Representatives in April.  Below I have provides links to some of my prior coverage of these federal sentencing proposals:

Post-Blakely discussion of the Bowman proposal (aka topless guidelines)

• The "Bowman Proposal": White Knight or Force of Darkness?
• The brewing battle over the Bowman fix
• Thinking about new federal reform dynamics
• Requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt in any legislative fix

Post-Booker discussion of the the Booker fix provisions of HR 1528

• Details concerning the brewing Booker fix
• Questions about the brewing Booker fix
• Bowman on the proposed Booker fix
• USSC speaks out against HR 1528
• Still more voices speaking out against brewing Booker fix
• The judges speak out against HR 1528
• The litigation mess argument against HR 1528