Commutation is a narrow grant of executive clemency that reduces a prison sentence. It is commutations that Barnett sought for her clients, not full pardons.

Crack cocaine is an illegal drug that contains the same ingredients as powder cocaine. Unlike powder cocaine, crack is smoked, not snorted or injected. It is cheaper and typically results in a faster high, but one of shorter duration. The sentencing disparities for crack compared to powder caused the lengthy sentences of Barnett’s clients.

Federal drug conspiracy is a crime that contains three elements: an agreement to traffic drugs in any amount that is made between two or more people who join the agreement voluntarily (125). Given its breadth, this law made convictions based on testimony easy and accounted for the federal government’s high conviction rate, even with no physical evidence.