Government doesn’t oppose release of presentence letters

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 12/4/8

A new court document filed late Thursday shows federal prosecutors do not oppose making public letters written to the U.S. District Court about former Booneville attorney Joey Langston.

Langston is set to be sentenced Dec. 16 for his participation in a judicial bribery scheme.

By Thursday, three newspapers had asked Chief Judge Michael P. Mills to let them look at the letters written generally on Langston’s behalf as sentencing decisions are being made.

U.S. Attorney Robert Norman writes: “the government takes the position that the release or non-release of presentencing letters is a matter within the sole and sound discretion of the court.”