Booker Statement on Biden Administration’s Appointment of Seven Nominees to the U.S. Sentencing Commission

Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Sentencing Commission, issued the following statement:

“I am deeply grateful that President Biden will appoint seven nominees to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, which will be the first time in nearly ten years that it has been fully seated. I am especially enthusiastic about the nomination of Judge John Gleeson, who has, over his exemplary, 30-year career in law as a federal prosecutor and judge, demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring fairness in our judicial system.

“The federal Sentencing Commission was created to be fair, impartial, and capable of providing evidence-driven improvements to our sentencing system, which is fraught with inequality. Full membership will allow the Commission to implement proper guidelines for enacted legislation like the First Step Act, our landmark, bipartisan bill signed into law in 2018 that will take steps toward reforming our broken criminal justice system.

“I have no doubt that these seven nominees are exceptionally qualified to serve on the Commission and will help develop fairer and more effective criminal justice policies. I look forward to their consideration before the Judiciary Committee and their confirmation by the full Senate.”

Senator Booker has made reforming our broken criminal justice system a key legislative priority during his time in the Senate. He most recently in 2021, introduced the Sentencing Commission Improvements Act, which adds an ex officio, nonvoting federal defender member to the U.S. Sentencing Commission designated by the Defender Services Advisory Group, the body under the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts that represents defender offices and advises the federal judiciary.