In criminal justice news, Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday instructed federal prosecutors to end disparities in the way they handle offenses involving crack cocaine and powder cocaine. Rights groups hailed the news. The ACLU called it “an important move toward ending the racist, unjust sentencing disparity that has devastated Black communities.” Advocates are urging the Senate to pass the EQUAL Act, which provides retroactive relief to previously convicted people. The bill has already overwhelmingly passed the House.