Comments on: To My Republican Friends http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html the tao of criminal defense trial lawyering Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:29:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brendan Kelly http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html/comment-page-1#comment-4132 Brendan Kelly Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:22:37 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html#comment-4132 Mark, I consider myself an ex-Republican...or perhaps a "Recovering Republican" as the GOP reminds me a great deal of the Officers and Crew of the Lusitania. I generally like what they are trying to do, and I like where they are trying to go. I find myself supporting their efforts, and hope they make it to their destination. That being said, their actions do not give me a whole lot of confidence in their ability to pull it off, and I have grave doubts that they actually will get to where they are trying to go. You are absolutely right, letting the Jury rather than the Judge sentence is the better idea, and more in line with preserving Freedom and Liberty. That's why I find this suprising, as the GOP is generally more upset about "liberal Judges" than anything else. (Not that there are a lot of those left in Texas, but still that's what get people all outraged, and that's what the infobabes on Fox tended to scream about...back when I still watched Fox.) I can't explain it, other than perhaps some party activist made it their pet cause, and forced it into the platform. You are right, it doesn't really make sense. Mark,

I consider myself an ex-Republican…or perhaps a “Recovering Republican” as the GOP reminds me a great deal of the Officers and Crew of the Lusitania. I generally like what they are trying to do, and I like where they are trying to go. I find myself supporting their efforts, and hope they make it to their destination. That being said, their actions do not give me a whole lot of confidence in their ability to pull it off, and I have grave doubts that they actually will get to where they are trying to go.

You are absolutely right, letting the Jury rather than the Judge sentence is the better idea, and more in line with preserving Freedom and Liberty. That’s why I find this suprising, as the GOP is generally more upset about “liberal Judges” than anything else. (Not that there are a lot of those left in Texas, but still that’s what get people all outraged, and that’s what the infobabes on Fox tended to scream about…back when I still watched Fox.) I can’t explain it, other than perhaps some party activist made it their pet cause, and forced it into the platform. You are right, it doesn’t really make sense.

]]> By: Tony Vitz http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html/comment-page-1#comment-4111 Tony Vitz Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:24:21 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html#comment-4111 Sometimes, they aren't really friends. Sometimes, they are prosecutors wearing a defense lawyer's suit of clothes. Sometimes, they aren’t really friends. Sometimes, they are prosecutors wearing a defense lawyer’s suit of clothes.

]]> By: Mark Bennett http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html/comment-page-1#comment-4055 Mark Bennett Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:53:32 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html#comment-4055 Sometimes friends need a good talking-to. Sometimes friends need a good talking-to.

]]> By: Mark's Dad http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html/comment-page-1#comment-4051 Mark's Dad Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:04:58 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html#comment-4051 It strikes me that asking your "friends" if they are collectively brainwashed is notably unfriendly. But since you asked, I'll answer that my Republican friends tend to agree with you that transferring power from juries to judges is inconsistent with “Preserving American Freedom” and “Limiting the Expanse of Government Power." It strikes me that asking your “friends” if they are collectively brainwashed is notably unfriendly.

But since you asked, I’ll answer that my Republican friends tend to agree with you that transferring power from juries to judges is inconsistent with “Preserving American Freedom” and “Limiting the Expanse of Government Power.”

]]> By: Ron in Houston http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html/comment-page-1#comment-4012 Ron in Houston Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:56:56 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html#comment-4012 Well, It's before 7 and I've already gotten an education today. I love the quote about being a member of a mean party. That's priceless. Well, It’s before 7 and I’ve already gotten an education today.

I love the quote about being a member of a mean party. That’s priceless.

]]> By: Alien http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html/comment-page-1#comment-4011 Alien Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:55:20 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html#comment-4011 At least the Truth in Sentencing right above that will let the jury know just how long the judge is gonna stick it to the defendant. I wonder if that Truth in Sentencing applies before or after they have to say guilty or not guilty. Probably after. At least the Truth in Sentencing right above that will let the jury know just how long the judge is gonna stick it to the defendant. I wonder if that Truth in Sentencing applies before or after they have to say guilty or not guilty. Probably after.

]]> By: Mark Bennett http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html/comment-page-1#comment-4010 Mark Bennett Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:53:40 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html#comment-4010 There are apparently several states that allow the jury to sentence in a felony case. (<a href="http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:9LlJT7TC7PwJ:lawreview.kentlaw.edu/articles/78-3/king.pdf+states+with+jury+sentencing+oklahoma+texas&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=safari" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is a law review article on felony jury sentencing. According to the article, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia allow juries to set punishment in felony cases.) Like another of my ex-Republican friends told Newsweek, <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/142479" rel="nofollow">"It's hard being a member of the mean party."</a> There are apparently several states that allow the jury to sentence in a felony case. (Here is a law review article on felony jury sentencing. According to the article, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia allow juries to set punishment in felony cases.)

Like another of my ex-Republican friends told Newsweek, “It’s hard being a member of the mean party.”

]]> By: AHCL http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html/comment-page-1#comment-4009 AHCL Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:42:43 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html#comment-4009 Isn't Texas only one of two states that still has jury sentencing? As usual, I think Texas is one of the few states that still gets it right. I was raised as a Republican and I still have to beat my head against the wall at how much they do to destroy themselves in PR realm. Isn’t Texas only one of two states that still has jury sentencing? As usual, I think Texas is one of the few states that still gets it right.

I was raised as a Republican and I still have to beat my head against the wall at how much they do to destroy themselves in PR realm.

]]> By: DL http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html/comment-page-1#comment-4007 DL Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:02:13 +0000 http://bennettandbennett.com/blog/2008/07/to-my-republican-friends.html#comment-4007 Hahaha! This is why I love Mark Bennet. Hahaha! This is why I love Mark Bennet.

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