News Release

U.S. Sentencing Commission
One Columbus Circle NE
Washington, DC 20002-8002

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, January 8, 2004

Contact: Michael Courlander
Public Affairs Officer
(202) 502-4597

MINNESOTA ATTORNEY B. TODD JONES SINGLED OUT FOR MENTION IN CHIEF JUSTICE'S REPORT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 8, 2004) — Chief Justice of the United States William H. Rehnquist, in his 2003 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary, made special mention of B. Todd Jones, former U.S. Attorney for Minnesota and now a partner at the law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, in Mr. Jones’s role as chair of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on the Organizational Sentencing Guidelines. The organizational guidelines are used to determine the criminal penalties for corporations and organizations that have been found to have violated federal laws. The report, issued January 1, 2004, focused on the relationship between Congress and the federal judiciary and recounted many of the accomplishments of the various judicial agencies.

The advisory group chaired by Mr. Jones was composed of distinguished leaders from the business, legal, and academic communities. The panel had been formed by the United States Sentencing Commission in February 2002 to review the general effectiveness of the federal sentencing guidelines and to place particular emphasis on examining the criteria for effective compliance programs that help prevent criminal activities. In October 2003, the Advisory Group delivered its final report to the Sentencing Commission and recommended amending the existing organizational guidelines to reflect contemporary, legislative, regulatory, and corporate governance requirements. In November 2003, the Commission voted to publish for public comment a proposed amendment to the organizational sentencing guidelines reflecting the Advisory Group’s recommendations.

Mr. Jones joined the national law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. in its Minneapolis office in June 2001. From 1998 to 2001, he served as United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota, previously having served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney (1997-1998) and Assistant U.S. Attorney (1992-1994). As United States Attorney, he was invited by Attorney General Janet Reno to serve as one of 18 U.S. Attorneys on the Attorney General Advisory Committee (AGAC). Mr. Jones was selected by Ms. Reno to serve as AGAC chair in 2000.