JUSTICE ACTION NETWORK STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT RULING IN TERRY V. UNITED STATES

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Terry v. United States, in which the Court was asked to determine whether the First Step Act’s retroactive sentencing relief for higher-lever drug offenders also applied to lower-level drug offenders (which was not explicitly stated in the bill, but many advocates argued was obviously the intent of Congress), Justice Action Network’s President and Executive Director Holly Harris issued the following statement: 

“Today’s ruling is disappointing; it seems non-sensical that Congress would specifically afford sentencing relief to those convicted of certain drug offenses, while intending to deny such relief to those convicted of lower-level offenses. But this decision underscores the urgency of our bipartisan work in Congress, and the need to pass common-sense reforms, including what was left on the table when First Step Act passed back in 2018.” said Holly Harris, President and Executive Director of the Justice Action Network. “This moment is also an opportunity to raise awareness around the significant and unjustifiable sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses, a vestige of pure racial injustice in America’s drug policy. The EQUAL Act, a bipartisan bill soon to take center stage on the Hill, would finally and fully eliminate this disparity. We urge Congress to take this Supreme Court decision and use it as motivation to pass bills like the EQUAL Act, definitive reforms that will leave no question regarding Congress’ intent, and will ultimately make our justice system fairer and more effective.”