MENTALLY ILL? OFF TO PRISON YOU GO!!!

A judge is supposed to bring a wealth of experience to the courtroom. Tempering sentences with wisdom, considering mercy and whether an individual has the ability to reform, while imposing a just sentence. The proceeding should be conducted with patience and dignity, giving the defendant and their counsel the time to present all mitigating circumstances. 

Some judges are guided by a lifetime of experience. Some are influenced by their religion ; Jesus said "let he who has not sinned cast the first stone." Hopefully the advocacy of the lawyers assist the judge, as does their individualized assessment of the defendant. 

Those are some of the factors that apply to a sentencing. 

Except for Judge Nick Nazaretian of the 13th Judicial Circuit. For him, a calculator totaling the highest sentence is all he needs. This is the article detailing a shocking list of judicial abuses and general thugishness from a Florida Judge who during sentencing sees fit to speculate on a defendant's weight, the memory of their dead mother, and labels defendants "sneaky-sneaks" (we checked the law books, but this must be an exceptionally sophisticated legal term, because we cannot find it in a decision anywhere. Maybe it comes from Roman law.), and "tv-watchers". 

In the case of Mia Black, on probation and then appearing for a violation before Judge NN, the probation officer and Ms. Black's husband both told the judge that Black's issue stemmed from her not being able to afford refills of her psychiatric medication, which lead to an episode where she was hospitalized.  The probation officer told the Judge that Ms. Black needed long term psychiatric hospitalization.  As Ms. Black's husband, a retired military veteran spoke, the judge cut him off, questioned him, and then said "what else do you want to tell me?" before sending Ms. Black to prison for 24 months. 

Yes, if you're mentally ill and can't get medicine, Judge NN believes that in all his wisdom that justice tempered with compassion means off you go to prison. 

We do not know what kind of future such an intemperate person has in public service, but there is probably a spot on a Fox News show for Judge NN. 

Justice in his courts is as much an illusion as the phrase Arbeit Macht Frei (work sets you free) which hung over the gates of Auschwitz was.