Supreme Court's 'and' interpretation could reshape drug traffickers' sentences

The Supreme Court is set to interpret the word "and" in a provision of the bipartisan 2018 criminal justice overhaul, known as the First Step Act, which aims to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for low-level, nonviolent drug dealers who cooperate with prosecutors. The interpretation of "and" will determine whether all three conditions listed in the provision must apply for a longer sentence to be imposed or if just one condition is enough. The decision could affect the sentences of nearly 6,000 drug traffickers in the 2021 budget year alone and potentially over 10,000 people sentenced since the law took effect. The case, Pulsifer v. U.S., will have significant implications for the application of the safety valve provision and the discretion of judges in sentencing.