PERCEPTION IS NOT NECESSARILY REALITY I was recently called out by commenters and some libertarian rag who implied that I did something wrong in meting out different sentences to a husband and wife who were charged and convicted of the same crime. It reminded me of a story Judge Causey (my predecessor) used to tell over thirty years ago: He was presiding over plea arrangements as a fourth grade class was visiting and observing the courtroom. A 25 year old single black female came before the judge on a drug offense, the judge accepted her plea, and because she was a first offender, sentenced her to several years, but suspended the sentence and placed her on supervised probation, with a condition that she receive drug treatment. Almost immediately, another defendant, single, white, female, and about 25 pleaded guilty to the exact same offense. The judge noted that she had been convicted twice before of drug offenses, and had been given the chance twice of probation, and proceeded to sentenced her to serve five years with the Department of Corrections. The defendant immediately fainted, fell out in the courtroom, and was carried out by deputies and medical personnel. After medical treatment, she was committed to the penitentiary. Letter from fourth grader: Judge, I was in the courtroom the other day and I think you are the meanest, most evil, most prejudiced judge in the world. I watched you preside over a case the other day, and you found a woman guilty, sentenced her, and EXECUTED HER right there in the courtroom!!!!!! PERCEPTION IS NOT NECESSARILY REALITY.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 19:18:58 +0000
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