WHAT a man! Super humane federal Judge retiring at 98

17 February 2020, 10:36 PM

He was famous among many other worthy causes, for his dedication to sentence reform.

quote:
How would you like to see your legacy described?

I would like to be remembered for trying to work with individuals to help them avoid the life-killing environment of prisons and to save them for a life with relatives and friends, with a job, and with the opportunity to lead a lawful life. Partly by reducing sentences to the extent possible, partly by reducing supervised release and partly by getting them out into the real world. It’s on a one-to-one basis that I see myself operating — the judge to the individual defendant.

I'm inspired also by his post-retirement plans - for him and his newly retired physican son to take university courses together. Subject? The evolution of Jim Crowism.

He recognized he might no longer be able to follow a case as well as before

18 February 2020, 12:00 AM

Steve Miller

NYT paywall.

That said, I know this guy’s story and admire the hell out of him.

18 February 2020, 08:34 AM

RealPlayer

I was once on a jury on a narcotics case where he was the judge.

18 February 2020, 08:39 AM

piqué

quote:
I’m convinced that we will come together. It’s essentially a good country made up of people who will fight for what’s right.

The judge was born the same year as my father. I have wondered what my dad would have said about the age of Trump. I think he would have been a lot more cynical than judge Weinstein. But I'll gladly take this viewpoint as a stand in.

Going for a master's degree at age 98! My hero! I want to be judge Weinstein when I grow up.

18 February 2020, 08:42 AM

piqué

quote:
Originally posted by RealPlayer:
I was once on a jury on a narcotics case where he was the judge.

Your impressions?

18 February 2020, 11:00 AM

RealPlayer

quote:
Originally posted by piqué:

Your impressions?

Well, it was some 20 years ago, so I don't remember a lot. A fairly long trial of a drug kingpin or large-scale trafficker. Kilos of heroin or cocaine were on exhibit on the prosecutor's table.

The jury did not reach a verdict. I think there were one or two undecided. Afterward, Weinstein reamed us out for not convicting on what he said was a clear guilty. But the defendant had really good lawyers too, so...there ya go. I'm sure there was a retrial later.

18 February 2020, 07:54 PM

Amanda

quote:
Originally posted by piqué:
quote:
I’m convinced that we will come together. It’s essentially a good country made up of people who will fight for what’s right.

The judge was born the same year as my father. I have wondered what my dad would have said about the age of Trump. I think he would have been a lot more cynical than judge Weinstein. But I'll gladly take this viewpoint as a stand in.

Going for a master's degree at age 98! My hero!

I want to be judge Weinstein when I grow up.

I wonder the same thing about my father apparently born a year before yours. I really wish I could discuss things with him!

(Wondering, though, whether his cognitive status would have worn well over the years even if his body had held up. After all, his wife my mother, is not capable of conversation at almost 97. Or for that matter, even consistently remembering the names of her children and grandchildren.)

18 February 2020, 08:28 PM

piqué

quote:
Originally posted by Amanda:
quote:
Originally posted by piqué:
quote:
I’m convinced that we will come together. It’s essentially a good country made up of people who will fight for what’s right.

The judge was born the same year as my father. I have wondered what my dad would have said about the age of Trump. I think he would have been a lot more cynical than judge Weinstein. But I'll gladly take this viewpoint as a stand in.

Going for a master's degree at age 98! My hero!

I want to be judge Weinstein when I grow up.

I wonder the same thing about my father apparently born a year before yours. I really wish I could discuss things with him!

(Wondering, though, whether his cognitive status would have worn well over the years even if his body had held up. After all, his wife my mother, is not capable of conversation at almost 97. Or for that matter, even consistently remembering the names of her children and grandchildren.)

As the daughters of larger-than-life dads, I guess that compass never really goes away. I have often thought I am glad my father never lived to see this presidency. It would have caused him enormous pain.