Word: instead
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Dates: during 2000-2000
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...regardless of how punitive the guidelines, the real concern is that they would restrict judges' ability to assign a punishment appropriate to each individual crime. Such a system, much like mandatory sentencing, eliminates a judge's experience and wisdom from the sentencing process. Instead, the decision is made by a grid that cannot consider any of the intangibles that might make a difference to a judge. No two crimes are the same; ignoring the circumstances does both defendants and prosecutors a disservice...
While it is never easy to see a criminal get off easily because of a judge's discretion, in the long term more damage would be done by ironclad sentencing restrictions. Instead of the Horton debacle, imagine a case where there are extenuating circumstances for the defendant. Should a judge be forced to ignore them during the sentencing process? Or, imagine a hardened criminal who shows no repentance or regret during a trial. Should justice be blind to that during sentencing...
Commenting on this case, Cellucci has shown a peculiar callousness to the guarantees in the judicial system that protect the rights of defendants. "Instead of protecting the defendant from the prosecutors," Cellucci has said, "the judge should be protecting the public from the defendant." Coming from a high public official, Cellucci's comment is even more irresponsible. Of course the justice system exists to protect the public. However, only a police state disregards the rights of defendants in order to accomplish that goal. That would indeed be a high price to pay to protect the public...
...Instead, the post office is making plans to move the entire facility--post office boxes and all--into nearby trailers. The move, however, "wouldn't affect service at all," Cannon said. "We are 90 percent sure we're going back to where...
...think with all those votes on the line our concerns would be addressed with a modicum of gravity. Listened to. Consulted. You'd think the candidates would be lining up at our doors to showcase their policies on health care, education, Social Security. But you'd be wrong. Instead of crunching our numbers, the candidates are kissing our babies. They're wearing earth tones and soft pastel ties. They're going on "Oprah," for God's sake...