What is your reaction to the judge who gave a black man life in prison for smoking a joint?

Question

A life sentence for pot? Here's the story:

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/691532/

Answer 1

i think thats bullshit doesnt matter what color u are seriously

Answer 2

the judge should be the one in jail

Answer 3

Oh, Texas.  You didn't mention that.

A few things the video doesn't get into: Prosecutors usually recommend a sentence. What did they recommend in these 2 cases? There were plea bargains involved at some juncture. These, too, require the participation of the prosecutor. Finally, there are sentencing ranges in most criminal statutes. And there are appellate avenues and habeas possibilities. While the judge does seem suspect, there are aspects of this story that are not addressed in the video.

Answer 4

You'll be happy to know this is all a lie.  Judges only have the right to give penalties within a specific range.  In almost all states, the use of illegal drugs is a misdemeanor, which gets from community service to 6 months in prison or a gross misdemeanor which gets community service or 6 months to a year in prison.  In those states that the use of a high amount of drugs is a felony, it gets no more than a couple of years in jail, however, there is no way a judge gave anyone life for smoking a joint unless of course he smoked a joint and then smothered someone with it and killed them.

Answer 5

You'll be happy to know that after 17 years in prison, this man has been released.  

Answer 6

It has to be racism. That is the answer for everything since Obama came along.

Answer 7

Life in prison for smoking a joint is ridiculous.

Now if he had murdered someone after taking a mind-altering substance, I'm perfectly ok with the life sentence. Drugs are not an excuse for illegal behavior; you take the risk, you accept the consequences.

Answer 8

I think everyone is missing the underlying message here, this is just one more example, of millions, that our biased, antiquated, broken,"judicial system" is in dire need of evaluation, and, rectification, I'm talking COMPLETE overhaul, after all, it's the "new millennium", the whole dysfunctional mess can be replaced by computers, and should be.

Answer 9

i would like to know ALL the back round on this case before making judgment.  

Answer 10

Sounds about right for a retarded justice system.

Answer 11

That is really messed up

how is it that the murderer violates probation with cocaine more than once and nothing happens and the robber smokes a joint and gets life?

why not make him serve the rest of his probation in jail?

Why was the judge allowed to abuse power that way

where the h**l are check and balances?