Last week the Supreme Court threw a very large wrench into the machinery of the criminal justice system. In Blakely v. Washington, the court struck down the sentencing guidelines used in Washington State. The ruling applies not only to Washington, but also to other states with similar systems -- and to the federal sentencing guidelines. It would be far better to use the sentencing guidelines to give judges nonbinding direction and to let appeals courts ensure a reasonable degree of uniformity. Congress should let guidelines guide -- and judges judge.
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