Chief U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry wants the public to know what judges do. So as she begins her seven-year term as chief judge of the St. Louis-based federal court, she says she wants to focus on the court's outreach efforts. Perry is the third consecutive woman to serve as chief judge of the District Court in St. Louis. Judge Carol E. Jackson, whom Perry follows, became chief in 2002 after Judge Jean C. Hamilton completed her seven-year term.

Tagged with: Carol Jackson Catherine D. Perry chief judge Doug Burris Jean Hamilton Jim Woodward U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri

After nearly 16 years in prison, Frank Harvey Jr. is making up for lost time and rebuilding relationships with his family and his friends. Convicted of a conspiracy to distribute one kilogram of crack cocaine, Harvey began serving what was to have been a 17½-year sentence in 1993. He was released in April 2008 after U.S. District Judge Donald Stohr, of the Eastern District of Missouri, reduced Harvey's sentence to 14 years. Harvey had already served 15 years and eight months, so he was credited for time served and released immediately.

Tagged with: 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Bobbie Jones Booker Caterina DiTraglia Catherine Hanaway Crack Cocaine Doug Burris Frank Harvey Jr. Gall Harris Jim Woodward Kermit E. Bye Kimbrough powder cocaine sentencing disparity Starks U.S. Sentencing Guidelines