Chavis v. Florida

How later courts describe this case

• upholding statute requiring motion by prosecutor before court may impose sentence below statutory minimum based on defendant’s cooperation with government
• defendant has remedies for breach, citing Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 92 S.Ct. 495, 30 L.Ed.2d 427 (1971)
• section 5K1.1, promulgated by the Sentencing Commission pursuant to section 994, restates requirement of government motion before sentencing judge may depart below statutory minimum
• Congress may constrain the exercise of judicial discretion so long as such constraints have a rational basis.
• same rule' applies to motions to depart below statutory minimum
• prosecutor’s broad discretion in making recommendation under § 5K1.1 of the Guidelines
• rejecting same argument with respect to section 3553(e) motions