Right to Trial Act

This bill, titled the "Right to Trial Act," seeks to safeguard the constitutional right to trial by discouraging the imposition of extended sentences on defendants who opt for a trial over a plea agreement. It amends federal sentencing guidelines to ensure that a defendant's decision to exercise their right to trial does not result in a harsher sentence. Specifically, the legislation adds new factors for courts to consider when imposing a sentence, including the need to protect the right to trial and to prohibit increased sentences based on a defendant's refusal of a plea offer. Courts must also consider the plea offers and sentences of similarly situated codefendants or defendants who pled guilty. Furthermore, the bill grants courts explicit authority to impose a sentence below a statutory minimum if the minimum would constitute a penalty for asserting the constitutional right to a trial.