Rutherford v. United States

Summary

The Court held that a sentencing disparity created by Congress’s non‑retroactive amendment to 18 U.S.C. §924(c) is not an “extraordinary and compelling” reason that warrants a reduction of a prison term under 18 U.S.C. §3582(c)(1)(A)(i). The majority reasoned that non‑retroactive changes are the ordinary practice and do not satisfy the statutory requirement that the reason be both unusual and convincing. Accordingly, the Third Circuit’s denial of the petitioners’ compassionate‑release motions was affirmed.