Since 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court has raised serious doubts about the constitutionality of many state sentencing guidelines, holding that other than a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the statutory maximum must be tried before a jury (Apprendi v. New Jersey, 2000). Based on this reasoning, in 2004 the Court struck down sentencing guidelines in the State of Washington, holding that the Sixth Amendment gives juries (and not judges) the power to make a finding of fact beyond a reasonable doubt (Blakely v. Washington, 2004). The dissenters argued that the decision will serve only to increase judicial discretion and lead to less uniformity in sentencing, perhaps leading to increasing racial discrimination.
-What two extra-legal factors that impact the imposition of a sentence above the maximum range of sentencing guidelines appear to affect both jury and judicial decision-making in particular?

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The Answer of Since 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court has raised serious doubts about the constitutionality of many state sentencing guidelines, holding that other than a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the statutory maximum must be tried before a jury (Apprendi v. New Jersey, 2000). Based on this reasoning, in 2004 the Court struck down sentencing guidelines in the State of Washington, holding that the Sixth Amendment gives juries (and not judges) the power to make a finding of fact beyond a reasonable doubt (Blakely v. Washington, 2004). The dissenters argued that the decision will serve only to increase judicial discretion and lead to less uniformity in sentencing, perhaps leading to increasing racial discrimination.
-What two extra-legal factors that impact the imposition of a sentence above the maximum range of sentencing guidelines appear to affect both jury and judicial decision-making in particular?