Rutherford v. United States · ¶73

Congress gave the Commission an important policymaking role in the compassionate-release context as well. Under the statute, district courts can grant compassionate release and reduce a defendant's sentence if they find that there are “extraordinary and compelling reasons” for doing so. 18 U. S. C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). Congress neither specified what constitutes “extraordinary and compelling reasons” for relief nor told district courts how to determine if such reasons exist. It entrusted the Commission with those responsibilities instead, instructing district courts that any grant of relief must be “consistent with applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission.” § 3582(c)(1)(A).

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