January/February 2004 issue
Judge Murphy Resigns as Chair of Sentencing Commission
After four years of service, Judge Diana E. Murphy has resigned her post as chair of the United States Sentencing Commission. In her letter of resignation to the President, dated December 19, 2003, she explained that she had been juggling her work for the Commission with an active caseload for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. She expressed a "need to do more to help keep the court's work current," and said that she would not be able to do so without leaving the Commission. Her resignation became effective on January 31, 2004.
Judge Murphy was appointed as chair of the Commission in 1999. During her time with the Commission she oversaw surveys and reports on subjects such as the operation of the sentencing guidelines, reassessment of federal cocaine penalties, and departures from the federal sentencing guidelines. She guided the Commission in responding to congressional directives in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the USA Patriot Act of 2003, and the Protect Act of 2003. She also oversaw the formation and work of two advisory groups; one group studied the issues relating to the organizational guidelines and the other group examined the impact of the federal sentencing guidelines on Native Americans in Indian Country.
The United States Sentencing Commission is an independent agency within the judicial branch of the federal government composed of seven voting members and two non-voting ex officio members. Until a new chair is appointed and confirmed, each member of the Commission will assume a portion of the chair's responsibilities.
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