Mukasey Hit Justice Dept on Sentencing

WASHINGTON - As a judge, Michael Mukasey ridiculed the Justice Department for defending federal sentencing guidelines used to mete out prison time to criminals.

Soon, he may be leading the Bush administration's push to toughen the guidelines.

Formally nominated Friday as President Bush's pick for attorney general, Mukasey could find himself in an awkward position as Republicans seize on the 2008 elections to promote the Justice Department's crime bill, which includes mandatory minimum sentences for most federal prisoners.

Judges generally oppose the plan that limits their sentencing discretion - the heart of Mukasey's own complaint as a U.S. District Court jurist …