Court says US may seek review of 'light' sentences

The Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that the government may seek review of a sentence if feels is too lenient despite the Constitution's guarantee against double jeopardy. The justices held that a federal statute giving the government power to seek tougher criminal sentenses does not violate the prohibition against multiple trials or multiple punishment.

The cour also dealt a blow to railroad retirees seeking "windfall" benefits by collecting both railroad pensions and social security benefits, reversing an appeals court ruling that Congress set up a discriminatory formula for awarding the double benefits when it passed the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974.