A day after US President Joe Biden granted clemency to 16 people who were convicted of non-violent drug crimes, Kim Kardashian reached the White House to meet Vice President Kamala Harris and discuss criminal justice reform. The forum was attended by several people who were pardoned on Wednesday, including Jason Hernandez, Bobby Darrell Lowery, Jesse Mosley and Beverly Holcy.&nbsp;

"I’m a big believer in the power of redemption," Harris said at the event. "Is it not the sign of a civil society that we allow people a way to earn their way back and give them the support and the resources they need to do that?"

Harris also thanked Kardashian for visiting the White House multiple times and using her platform in a way that has "really lifted up the importance of talking about and being dedicated to second chances".

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"I’m just here to help and to spread the word," Kardashian said, before telling the pardon recipients that she was "excited to be here to hear your stories". Kardashian also said that sharing personal stories helps people understand the challenges of re-entering society after incarceration.

"Every time I’ve gone and visited a prison, I’ve met some of the smartest individuals with the brightest ideas and to see the changes that are happening to make their re-entry easier, I think, is going to be life-changing and give so many people hope," Kardashian added.

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At the roundtable, Harris also announced the finalisation of a Small Business Administration rule that will remove most restrictions on loan eligibility based on a person's criminal record.&nbsp;

Since taking office, Biden has commuted the sentences of 122 individuals and granted pardons to 20 individuals who committed non-violent drug offences, the White House said. In December, Biden granted categorical pardons to thousands convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana in Washington and on federal lands.

Last month, Harris convened a roundtable with people pardoned for marijuana offences with rapper Fat Joe.

(With inputs from agencies)

A day after US President Joe Biden granted clemency to 16 people who were convicted of non-violent drug crimes, Kim Kardashian reached the White House to meet Vice President Kamala Harris and discuss criminal justice reform.

A day after US President Joe Biden granted clemency to 16 people who were convicted of non-violent drug crimes, Kim Kardashian reached the White House to meet Vice President Kamala Harris and discuss criminal justice reform. The forum was attended by several people who were pardoned on Wednesday, including Jason Hernandez, Bobby Darrell Lowery, Jesse Mosley and Beverly Holcy. "I’m a big believer in the power of redemption," Harris said at the event. "Is it not the sign of a civil society that we allow people a way to earn their way back and give them the support and the resources they need to do that?" Harris also thanked Kardashian for visiting the White House multiple times and using her platform in a way that has "really lifted up the importance of talking about and being dedicated to second chances". Also read: 2024 Latin American Music Awards: Check complete winner's list "I’m just here to help and to spread the word," Kardashian said, before telling the pardon recipients that she was "excited to be here to hear your stories". Kardashian also said that sharing personal stories helps people understand the challenges of re-entering society after incarceration. "Every time I’ve gone and visited a prison, I’ve met some of the smartest individuals with the brightest ideas and to see the changes that are happening to make their re-entry easier, I think, is going to be life-changing and give so many people hope," Kardashian added. Also read: Ashley Judd, #MeToo founders react to ruling overturning Harvey Weinstein’s conviction At the roundtable, Harris also announced the finalisation of a Small Business Administration rule that will remove most restrictions on loan eligibility based on a person's criminal record. Since taking office, Biden has commuted the sentences of 122 individuals and granted pardons to 20 individuals who committed non-violent drug offences, the White House said. In December, Biden granted categorical pardons to thousands convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana in Washington and on federal lands. Last month, Harris convened a roundtable with people pardoned for marijuana offences with rapper Fat Joe. (With inputs from agencies)

Kim Kardashian discusses criminal justice reform with Kamala Harris at White House

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to a federal law that requires only men to register for the military draft.

As is the court’s custom, it gave no reasons for turning down the case. But three justices issued a statement saying that Congress should be allowed more time to consider what they acknowledged was a significant legal issue.

“It remains to be seen, of course, whether Congress will end gender-based registration under the Military Selective Service Act,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the statement, which was joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Brett Kavanaugh. “But at least for now, the court’s long-standing deference to Congress on matters of national defense and military affairs cautions against granting review while Congress actively weighs the issue.”

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The requirement is one of the last sex-based distinctions in federal law, one that challengers say cannot be justified now that women are allowed to serve in every role in the military, including ground combat. Unlike men, though, they are not required to register with the Selective Service System, the government agency that maintains a database of Americans who would be eligible for the draft were it reinstated.

The unequal treatment “imposes selective burdens on men, reinforces the notion that women are not full and equal citizens, and perpetuates stereotypes about men’s and women’s capabilities,” lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union wrote in a petition on behalf of two men who were required to register and the National Coalition for Men.

In 1981, in Rostker v. Goldberg, the Supreme Court rejected a sex-discrimination challenge to the registration requirement, reasoning that it was justified because women could not at that time serve in combat roles.

“Since women are excluded from combat service by statute or military policy,” Justice William Rehnquist wrote for the majority, “men and women are simply not similarly situated for purposes of a draft or registration for a draft.”

On Monday, Sotomayor wrote that “the role of women in the military has changed dramatically since then.”

“Beginning in 1991,” she wrote, “thousands of women have served with distinction in a wide range of combat roles, from operating military aircraft and naval vessels to participating in boots-on-the-ground infantry missions.”

Lower courts had agreed with that assessment.

In 2019, Judge Gray H. Miller of U.S. District Court in Houston ruled that since women can now serve in combat, the men-only registration requirement was no longer justified. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in New Orleans, agreed that “the factual underpinning of the controlling Supreme Court decision has changed.” But it said that only the Supreme Court could overrule its own precedent.

The Trump administration defended the differing registration requirements in the appeals court. The Biden administration urged the Supreme Court not to hear the case, National Coalition for Men v. Selective Service System, No. 20-928, but it did not defend the constitutionality of the law. Instead, it asked the justices to give Congress more time to consider the matter.

Last year, a congressional commission concluded that expanding the registration requirement to women was “a necessary — and overdue — step” that “signals that both men and women are valued for their contributions in defending the nation.” That echoed recommendations from military leaders. But Congress, which has long been studying the question, has yet to act.

Men who fail to register can face harsh punishments, including criminal prosecution, denial of student loans and disqualification from citizenship. Eight states do not let men enroll in public universities unless they have registered.

The government has not drafted anyone since the Vietnam War, and there is no reason to think that will change. The challengers said that was a reason for the court to act now, before a crisis arises.

“Should the court declare the men-only registration requirement unconstitutional,” their brief said, “Congress has considerable latitude to decide how to respond. It could require everyone between the ages of 18 and 26, regardless of sex, to register; it could rescind the registration requirement entirely; or it could adopt a new approach altogether, such as replacing” the registration requirement “with a more expansive national service requirement.”

A group of retired military officers, along with the Center for Military Readiness, urged the court to deny review, saying the 1981 precedent was sound.

The brief said that Congress rather than the court should decide who must register. It added that the challengers “also fail to address the elephant in the room: Men, as a group, are stronger, bigger, faster and have greater endurance than women as a group.”

Another group of retired military officers — including Michael V. Hayden, who directed both the CIA and the National Security Agency; Stanley A. McChrystal, a former commander in Afghanistan; and Claudia J. Kennedy, first woman to become a three-star general in the Army — urged the court to hear the case.

“Including women in the Selective Service would double the pool of candidates available to draft,” their brief said, “raising the overall quality of the conscripted force and enabling the nation to better meet its military needs.”

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to a federal law that requires only men to register for the military draft. As is the court’s custom, it gave no reasons for turning down the case.

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to a federal law that requires only men to register for the military draft. As is the court’s custom, it gave no reasons for turning down the case. But three justices issued a statement saying that Congress should be allowed more time to consider what they acknowledged was a significant legal issue. “It remains to be seen, of course, whether Congress will end gender-based registration under the Military Selective Service Act,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the statement, which was joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Brett Kavanaugh. “But at least for now, the court’s long-standing deference to Congress on matters of national defense and military affairs cautions against granting review while Congress actively weighs the issue.” Also read | Supreme Court rules against immigrants seeking green cards The requirement is one of the last sex-based distinctions in federal law, one that challengers say cannot be justified now that women are allowed to serve in every role in the military, including ground combat. Unlike men, though, they are not required to register with the Selective Service System, the government agency that maintains a database of Americans who would be eligible for the draft were it reinstated. The unequal treatment “imposes selective burdens on men, reinforces the notion that women are not full and equal citizens, and perpetuates stereotypes about men’s and women’s capabilities,” lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union wrote in a petition on behalf of two men who were required to register and the National Coalition for Men. In 1981, in Rostker v. Goldberg, the Supreme Court rejected a sex-discrimination challenge to the registration requirement, reasoning that it was justified because women could not at that time serve in combat roles. “Since women are excluded from combat service by statute or military policy,” Justice William Rehnquist wrote for the majority, “men and women are simply not similarly situated for purposes of a draft or registration for a draft.” On Monday, Sotomayor wrote that “the role of women in the military has changed dramatically since then.” “Beginning in 1991,” she wrote, “thousands of women have served with distinction in a wide range of combat roles, from operating military aircraft and naval vessels to participating in boots-on-the-ground infantry missions.” Lower courts had agreed with that assessment. In 2019, Judge Gray H. Miller of U.S. District Court in Houston ruled that since women can now serve in combat, the men-only registration requirement was no longer justified. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in New Orleans, agreed that “the factual underpinning of the controlling Supreme Court decision has changed.” But it said that only the Supreme Court could overrule its own precedent. The Trump administration defended the differing registration requirements in the appeals court. The Biden administration urged the Supreme Court not to hear the case, National Coalition for Men v. Selective Service System, No. 20-928, but it did not defend the constitutionality of the law. Instead, it asked the justices to give Congress more time to consider the matter. Last year, a congressional commission concluded that expanding the registration requirement to women was “a necessary — and overdue — step” that “signals that both men and women are valued for their contributions in defending the nation.” That echoed recommendations from military leaders. But Congress, which has long been studying the question, has yet to act. Men who fail to register can face harsh punishments, including criminal prosecution, denial of student loans and disqualification from citizenship. Eight states do not let men enroll in public universities unless they have registered. The government has not drafted anyone since the Vietnam War, and there is no reason to think that will change. The challengers said that was a reason for the court to act now, before a crisis arises. “Should the court declare the men-only registration requirement unconstitutional,” their brief said, “Congress has considerable latitude to decide how to respond. It could require everyone between the ages of 18 and 26, regardless of sex, to register; it could rescind the registration requirement entirely; or it could adopt a new approach altogether, such as replacing” the registration requirement “with a more expansive national service requirement.” A group of retired military officers, along with the Center for Military Readiness, urged the court to deny review, saying the 1981 precedent was sound. The brief said that Congress rather than the court should decide who must register. It added that the challengers “also fail to address the elephant in the room: Men, as a group, are stronger, bigger, faster and have greater endurance than women as a group.” Another group of retired military officers — including Michael V. Hayden, who directed both the CIA and the National Security Agency; Stanley A. McChrystal, a former commander in Afghanistan; and Claudia J. Kennedy, first woman to become a three-star general in the Army — urged the court to hear the case. “Including women in the Selective Service would double the pool of candidates available to draft,” their brief said, “raising the overall quality of the conscripted force and enabling the nation to better meet its military needs.”

Supreme Court won’t hear case on limiting military draft to men

The US Senate on Tuesday night overwhelmingly passed a sweeping federal criminal justice reform bill, paving the way for the most significant change to America's justice system in decades.

The "First Step Act," a hard-won bipartisan effort, includes provisions to ease heavy sentences for certain offenders, give judges more discretion in sentencing low-level criminals, and improve prison conditions for women, among others.&nbsp;

"America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for all citizens, even those who have made mistakes," US President Donald Trump tweeted after the bill was passed.

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America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes. Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1075210867678109697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill," he said.

The bill passed by a vote of 87-12, and will now go to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass swiftly.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said the House "looks forward" to send the bill to Trump's desk.

One element of the bill would make retroactive the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act, which altered sentencing guidelines to treat crack and powder cocaine offences equally. According to government figures, that alone would impact over 2,600 inmates.

But the bill will only affect America's federal inmates, of which there are 180,789, according to the latest figures from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the total US incarcerated population was over 2.1 million at the end of 2016.

The US Senate on Tuesday night overwhelmingly passed a sweeping federal criminal justice reform bill, paving the way for the most significant change to America's justice system in decades.

The US Senate on Tuesday night overwhelmingly passed a sweeping federal criminal justice reform bill, paving the way for the most significant change to America's justice system in decades. The "First Step Act," a hard-won bipartisan effort, includes provisions to ease heavy sentences for certain offenders, give judges more discretion in sentencing low-level criminals, and improve prison conditions for women, among others. "America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for all citizens, even those who have made mistakes," US President Donald Trump tweeted after the bill was passed. America is the greatest Country in the world and my job is to fight for ALL citizens, even those who have made mistakes. Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018 × "Congratulations to the Senate on the bi-partisan passing of a historic Criminal Justice Reform Bill," he said. The bill passed by a vote of 87-12, and will now go to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass swiftly. House Speaker Paul Ryan said the House "looks forward" to send the bill to Trump's desk. One element of the bill would make retroactive the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act, which altered sentencing guidelines to treat crack and powder cocaine offences equally. According to government figures, that alone would impact over 2,600 inmates. But the bill will only affect America's federal inmates, of which there are 180,789, according to the latest figures from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the total US incarcerated population was over 2.1 million at the end of 2016.

Bipartisan criminal justice reform bill clears US Senate

United States President Barack Obama today commuted the sentences of 214 drug offenders, the single biggest act of presidential clemency in over a century. 
 
The White House said Obama had forgiven a fresh group of prisoners, including 67 who had been serving life sentences. Most were guilty of non-violent crimes, many involving possession or distribution of crack cocaine. The actions &quot;represent the most grants in a single day since at least 1900,&quot; said Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel to the president. 
 
Obama has now made 562 commutations, &quot;more commutations than the previous nine presidents combined,&quot; Eggleston said. 
 
The move is part of Obama&#39;s effort to push ahead with criminal justice reform. The United States currently has among the world&#39;s highest incarceration rates and puts a disproportionate number of black and Hispanic Americans behind bars. One often cited reason are mandatory sentencing laws for the use of crack that are tougher than those for cocaine. 
 
(AFP)

The move, which is a push to the US criminal justice reform, is said to be the biggest act of presidential clemency in over a century

United States President Barack Obama today commuted the sentences of 214 drug offenders, the single biggest act of presidential clemency in over a century. The White House said Obama had forgiven a fresh group of prisoners, including 67 who had been serving life sentences. Most were guilty of non-violent crimes, many involving possession or distribution of crack cocaine. The actions "represent the most grants in a single day since at least 1900," said Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel to the president. Obama has now made 562 commutations, "more commutations than the previous nine presidents combined," Eggleston said. The move is part of Obama's effort to push ahead with criminal justice reform. The United States currently has among the world's highest incarceration rates and puts a disproportionate number of black and Hispanic Americans behind bars. One often cited reason are mandatory sentencing laws for the use of crack that are tougher than those for cocaine. (AFP)

Obama makes mass commutation of 214 offenders