Judiciary

[MEMPHIS, TN] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), who has been the most constant voice in Congress imploring President Obama to use his absolute power to bring about justice through commutations and pardons, today commended President Obama’s decision to commute the sentences of 98 largely non-violent drug offenders, including one Memphian. Today’s commutations represent the President’s continued commitment to using his pardon and commutation powers to right the wrongs of outdated and discriminatory federal policies, and to provide a second chance to deserving individuals.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch expressing concern about the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement that, as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Shelby County v. Holder case, it would be severely limited in the number of election observers that it can deploy nationally to observe the November 8^th election. In Shelby County v.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today praised the U.S. Department of Justice for announcing that it would begin collecting data early next year on the use of force by federal law enforcement agents and help local police departments report data on “in custody” deaths and collect information on a variety of other police actions.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement regarding the announcement of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to delay a final decision on placing kratom on the list of Schedule I drugs and begin a period of public comment: