Sixth Circuit Limits Sentencing Commission's Compassionate Release Policy Statement

U.S. Sentencing Commission issues a policy statement in 2023 that a non-retroactive change in the law can present an "extraordinary and compelling" reason warranting a sentence reduction if it results in old inmates serving much longer sentences than new inmates who committed the same crimes. Multiple inmates seek compassionate release under the new policy statement. Sixth Circuit (over a dissent): We've already interpreted the compassionate-release statute to provide otherwise, and it would be a separation-of-powers problem for the Sentencing Commission to overrule us.