Notable news from the US Sentencing Commission

Providing a useful follow-up to all my speculation about what's going on at the US Sentencing Commission, the USSC's webpage now has these two (exciting?) new press releases:

• United States Sentencing Commission to Conduct Regional Public Hearings on Federal Sentencing Policy
• Sentencing Commission Ratifies Charter for Practitioners Advisory Group

The news about regional public hearings is exciting in part because it seems the Commission has a broad vision of what can and should be discussed at these hearings:

At the hearings, the Commission expects to hear from a wide range of witnesses from across the nation, including the judiciary, law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, community interest groups, sentencing experts, and others interested in federal sentencing. The Commission is interested in any suggestions regarding changes to the Sentencing Reform Act and other relevant statutes, the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements, and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure that, in the view of the witness, will further the statutory purposes of sentencing.

Some recent related posts about the US Sentencing Commission:

• The revised make-up of the US Sentencing Commission
• Might the US Sentencing Commission have any notable guideline amendments in the works?
• Why federal sentencing reformers must focus on the USSC and lower courts
• How a new administration is likely to impact federal sentencing practice
• Are we on the verge of a new changed era concerning federal sentencing law and policy?
• What might 2009 have in store for . . . the US Sentencing Commission?