Legal Commentary

Friday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn

A federal judge in Benton, Illinois today sentenced former sheriff Raymond Martin to two life terms for marijuana distribution. (He was also convicted for a failed plot to kill witnesses and carrying a firearm (his service revolver)during his drug activity.) Charges against his ex-wife and son are pending. His son Cody testified against him at trial. The judge said today: "Words cannot adequately describe how despicable it was for what you did to your son, Cody....Animals protect their young more than you did yours."

More from the Judge: "You represent the worst of humanity. You are a pathetic person and a sorry excuse for a human being for involving your son."

So a crooked cop in Podunk involved with marijuana who made threats that never came to pass and possessed guns gets two life sentences, while Jon Burge, a crooked cop in Chicago, who used guns as one method of actually torturing innocent arrestees for decades gets 4.5 years.

In other news, Cyclist Floyd Landis today called for the legalization of doping.

And Bradley Manning has filed a complaint about the conditions of his detention.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 22, 2011 (boomark / email).