Prof. Sam Merchant Quoted by New York Times About Sean Combs’ Sentence Length

Professor Sam Merchant was quoted by the New York Times about the length of sentence that rapper Sean Combs will receive at a hearing this Friday. In July, at the conclusion of an eight-week trial, a jury acquitted Combs of the most serious charges brought against him: sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. But the jury found him guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and now Judge Arun Subramanian will decide Combs’ punishment. Prof. Merchant said that while guidelines often act as an “anchor” in sentencing, judges have significant leeway when deciding a defendant’s ultimate punishment. He said, “In plain English, the judge can consider any information about the defendant or the crime when they’re considering an appropriate sentence to impose on the offender.”