Sentencing Commission chair cites 1,200+ pages of public comment, thanks advisory groups

Chair Carlton W. Reeves opened the meeting by welcoming in-person and livestream attendees and listing commissioners and the Department of Justice's ex officio representative. He told the commission and public that this summer the commission solicited priorities and received "more than 1200 pages of insightful comments" from judges, members of Congress, executive branch officials, probation officers, advisory groups, attorneys, professors, advocates, organizations and incarcerated individuals.

Reeves acknowledged the work of commission staff in researching and drafting the proposals before the commission and thanked advisory-group members by name, including Trisha Tingle, Tim Purdon, Jesse Laszovich, Sarah Veil, John Sale, Stacy Newman, Margaret Garvin, Francie Hakes, Katie Ship, and Julie Grochovsky. He singled out Professor Mary Graulier (name as transcribed in the meeting) and presented a certificate of appreciation for her service on the victims advisory group.

Reeves also noted that the commission has held roundtables on drug sentencing and supervised release and said additional proposals responsive to public input may be considered in future meetings. He closed the opening remarks with holiday well-wishes before the commission moved to votes on proposed amendments.