Justice Asks Supreme Court for Early Hearing on Federal Sentencing

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Declaring "disarray" in federal sentencing, Justice Department lawyers late Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to hold a special session and issue a prompt ruling on whether federal sentencing guidelines are unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court prompted the scramble by the federal government with a 5-4 ruling last month that struck down similar sentencing guidelines in a number of states, and cast doubt on whether the 20-year-old federal guidelines also violate the Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial.

Acting Solicitor General Paul Clement filed appeals on sentencing in two drug cases, and urged the justices to assemble to consider the issue as early as September 13, nearly a month before the high court's next term begins.

Details here from CNN. (For the latest on the turmoil regarding the Guidelines, check out Douglas Berman's Sentencing Law and Policy blog.)