Judge uses new discretion to reduce sentences of "Virginia Jihad" convicts News
Judge uses new discretion to reduce sentences of "Virginia Jihad" convicts

[JURIST] US District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema [official profile] reduced the sentences Friday of three Virginia men convicted of participating in terror training. Brinkeme had been required to sentence members of the "Virginia Jihad" to lengthy prison terms she had called excessive before the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Booker [PDF] invalidated mandatory sentencing guidelines. She reduced two sentences by 20 years, and a third by roughly four years. The terms for the three men on firearms counts were Congressionally imposed and thus were not reduced, leaving prison terms at a level Brinkema still described as "really draconian". The Washington Post has more.