The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday over the constitutionality of the federal sentencing guidelines.

According to news reports, a majority of justices indicated they would strike down the rules. They cited an accused person's Sixth Amendment right to a trial by jury on facts central to a case.

Currently, judges use the guidelines to determine sentences. But the Supreme Court recently struck down the state of Washington's rules because they allowed judges to increase punishments based on facts that weren't subject to a jury trial.

Get the Story:
Sentencing Rules Get Hearing (The Washington Post 10/5)
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Justices Show Inclination to Scrap Sentencing Rules (The New York Times 10/5)
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