Fernandez v. United States · ¶93

Nor would allowing consideration of potential innocence permit federal prisoners to circumvent § 2255's limitations on habeas relief, as the majority claims. See ante, at 420–423. That is because the habeas and compassionate-release provisions operate differently. To be sure, both statutes authorize the release of federal prisoners. But, where the statutory prerequisites are met, relief under § 3582(c)(1)(A) is discretionary, whereas relief under § 2255 is mandatory: The former provides that “the court . . . may reduce the term of imprisonment,” while the latter states that “the court shall vacate and set the judgment aside.” (Emphasis added.) Section 3582(c)(1)(A) thus provides no guaranteed end-run around § 2255's limitations on relief.

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