Judge Walton: Bush’s commutation of Libby sentence creates impression of unequal justice.
Judge Walton: Bush’s commutation of Libby sentence creates impression of unequal justice.
U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton sentenced Scooter Libby to 2.5 years in prison after a jury convicted the former White House staffer of lying to federal prosecutors and impeding an investigation into leak of a former CIA agent’s identity. Walton’s sentence was overturned by President Bush’s commutation order last July. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Walton said that, while he respected the president’s authority to issue the commutation, Bush’s actions create an impression of unequal justice under the law:
Walton, whom Bush nominated to the District of Columbia bench, acknowledged Tuesday that Bush’s decision was part of the system, but he also said it fed some people’s notion that justice isn’t equal.
“The president has that authority and exercised it, and that has to be respected,” said Walton, who is to speak Thursday in Milwaukee at a literacy event.
“The downside is there are a lot of people in America who think that justice is determined to a large degree by who you are and that what you have plays a large role in what kind of justice you receive. … It is crucial that the American public respect the rule of law, or people won’t follow it.”
“I believe firmly you apply the law and apply it strictly,” Walton said from his chambers in Washington. “I don’t give white-collar criminals a pass.”
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it’s not just an impression of unequal justice, it is also the reality.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:15 pmHow is anyone in this country to respect the rule of law when the President does not?
April 30th, 2008 at 12:17 pmShrub couldn’t care less about “equality”.
He was raised by a corrupt ex-CIA leader.
His is a culture of elitist, cronyism where the only thing that matters is who you know, not what you know.
Hence his total lack of knowledge regarding anything of substance – he’s been rewarded more by his ignorance than by his intelligence.
God, what a horrible human.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:17 pmJudge Walton: Water gives the impression of wetness.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:18 pm“justice is determined to a large degree by who you are and that what you have plays a large role in what kind of justice you receive”
Bingo!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:19 pm“I believe firmly you apply the law and apply it strictly,” Walton said from his chambers in Washington. “I don’t give white-collar criminals a pass.”
Well, it really doesn’t matter, does it Judge Walton? You can “stay in school and stay off drugs,” you can be on the Dean’s list every semester as an undergrad, graduate at the top of your law school class, and be the finest Judge you could ever dream of being — but it doesn’t matter, because George W. Bush will have HIS way. FTW!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pmGee, ya think?
There is only rule of law for OTHER people. Icky brown folks, kids with minimal amount of drugs, and other truly stupid stuff.
Libby never serving one day in jail was a travesty to what was our justice system. There is no justice system. It is only there to help this admin break the law.
Look at Ashcroft…he is now claiming client/attorney privilege. He was supposed to be OUR attorney, not a personal attorney for the president.
This country is messed up beyond words.
If you can buy your way out of everything, you’re gold. Otherwise, not so much so.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:21 pmBushitCo ~~ “So?”
April 30th, 2008 at 12:23 pm“The president has that authority and exercised it, and that has to be respected,”
Sure, and whenever someone dangerously abuses their “rights”, we should all just bow our heads in respect.
BULLSHIT.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:26 pmNo sh*t, Judge.
But thanks for being brave enough to say it in public.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:26 pmWalton, whom Bush nominated to the District of Columbia bench, acknowledged Tuesday that Bush’s decision was part of the system, but he also said it fed some people’s notion that justice isn’t equal.
“The president has that authority and exercised it, and that has to be respected,”
Just because you have the authority, doesn’t mean that you should use that authority… basic leadership skills… oh wait, we’re talking about Bush, aren’t we.
nevermind
April 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pmJudge Walton is no longer a loyal Bushie?
Karl Rove is gonna be pissed.
Seriously, though, even Bush appointees are speaking out against him. Someday, even some of the 21%ers will realize what has been done in the name of Terrah.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:31 pmJudge Walton is no longer a loyal Bushie?
Like I’ve said, the Shrub boot-lickers are JUST NOW realizing their heads are stained yellow from being pissed on for 7 years…
April 30th, 2008 at 12:34 pmWhat does FTW mean?
April 30th, 2008 at 12:34 pmJust because you have the right to do something does not mean it is the right thing to do.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:36 pmIgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
April 30th, 2008 at 12:37 pmBlank the World.
JMOHR had a great post in the Lurita Doan thread on exactly this topic. Worth a read.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:38 pmWhen we have the lawless making, breaking and changing the law there is no law or justice, just ever changing mind set by the evil and insane……Blessings
April 30th, 2008 at 12:41 pmThis one’s a solid jurist. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in a democratic administration, he’s bumped to the appeals court or, even better, nominated for an opening on the Supreme court.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:46 pmIgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
What does FTW mean?
April 30th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
_____
For The Win, I believe
April 30th, 2008 at 12:48 pmFTW=fcuk the world
Also a movie by the same name.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:50 pmIt ain’t no Rich Little impression–it is the reality of American injustice!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:56 pm“I don’t give white-collar criminals a pass.”
Perhaps the good judge will soon have the opportunity to deal with the many scofflaws resident in the so-called administration.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:56 pmWho you are and that what you have plays a large role in what kind of justice you receive.
We see this with Movie Stars, who flee the scene of an accident. The Paris Hilton’s of the world get treated different also. I have yet to see them even do the community service that is part of their sentence. It is not just confined to political figures.
Judges are suppose to be above reproach, that is also a thing of the past. Judge Walton at least tried; which is more than I can say most of them do.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:58 pm“The downside is there are a lot of people in America who think that justice is determined to a large degree by who you are and that what you have plays a large role in what kind of justice you receive.”
***
I’ll take “Things That Are Obvious To Everyone With A Functioning Conscience And More Than Two Neurons Firing” for $500 Alex. (/s)
I’m still holding out hopes that in January, 2009, a new Department of Justice headed up by an Attorney General that respects the law will be handed a stack of subpoenas and contempt charges and told “Go get ‘em!”
(Don’t rain on my parade, it could happen..)
April 30th, 2008 at 1:08 pmWhat do you do in a corrupt system in which those basic values that form or morality and ethics are shown to be worthless? What do you do in a system that has repudiated every advancement of our country since the era of Robber Barons? What do you do when you have personally seen that doing the “right thing” destroys your career, your family and your life? I would honestly like to know because I have really given up on this country and its justice system.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pm“The president has that authority and exercised it, and that has to be respected,”
I couldn’t disagree more. A President has the authority to PARDON so why should a president ALSO have the option to COMMUTE a sentence?
April 30th, 2008 at 1:14 pmIt may seem a semantic argument as both options technically undermine the decisions of judges and juries. A PARDON however permits the completion of the judicial process, a COMMUTATION truncates it. In both situations it takes the special attention of a President for these options to be exercised.
Who gets the personal attention of a President and how? By proximity and through advocacy, which also depends significantly on proximity.
A PARDON, issued after due process AND the intiation of punishment does not INTERFERE with the process, it affirms it–a pardon ‘only’ refutes the punishmentm not the crime.
A COMMUTATION however refutes the process, however flawed it might be, and does nothing but serve the personal interests of the accused and his or her benefactor. It is ne plus ultra example of inequality before the law and the premier demonstration of the personal advantages that proximity to a president provides.
robbez_92107 Says:
Judge Walton is no longer a loyal Bushie?
Karl Rove is gonna be pissed.
Nah, Rove is right now laughing his ass off. Not only did he and Scooter get away with High Treason, this just rubs our noses in it.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:16 pmKestrel…
The Jeopardy format is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?
April 30th, 2008 at 1:17 pm:D
“Impression of unequal justice”?
Impresion my ass!
April 30th, 2008 at 1:17 pm“Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations,—entangling alliances with none; the support of the State governments in all their rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestic concerns, and the surest bulwarks against anti-republican tendencies; the preservation of the general government in its whole constitutional vigour, as the sheet anchor of our peace at home and safety abroad; …freedom of religion; freedom of the press; freedom of person under the protection of the habeas corpus; and trial by juries impartially selected, — these principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us, and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation.”
T. JEFFERSON
“The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use – of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public.”
R. F. KENNEDY
“Man perfected by society is the best of all animals; he is the most terrible of all when he lives without law, and without justice.”
ARISTOTLE
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
“True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.”
Clarence Darrow
April 30th, 2008 at 1:23 pmnofltwlt Says:
“Impression of unequal justice”?
Yeah, you know, like the United States used to give the impression of being a democracy.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:23 pmOh #32. Why are you quoting all those dang libruls? You a communist or somethin’?
April 30th, 2008 at 1:25 pmSorry shoeless, isn’t this AmericaHatingSocialistCommie Bastid.com?
April 30th, 2008 at 1:32 pmJudge Walton: Bush’s commutation of Libby sentence creates impression of unequal justice.
How long have your people been yelling that there is a 2-tiered system , only to be told to get over slavery , Judge ?
April 30th, 2008 at 1:35 pmThe “Rule of Law” is an urban myth, maintained to keep the rubes quiet.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:57 pmThere is but one “Rule” for these oligarchic Fox: Money and power ROOLZ!
Judge Walton is right but the hold Justice System has been corrupted by the Bush Administration in the pass 7 years. We had the best Justice System in the World now even the Supreme Court Justices are corrupt. Few honest Judges are left in the system as we see Judge Fuller, Judge Nottingham and other corrupt Judges. The Department of Justice and all the US Court Systems need an ENIMA!
April 30th, 2008 at 2:02 pmKestrel sez: Don’t rain on my parade, it could happen…
please, may i have a ticket to that alternate universe where “it could happen.”
April 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pmOn Jan 20, 09, if (a REALLY BEEG “IF”) a Dim is inaugurated, the chorusses of “We Can’t Afford To Look Back, We Must Look Forward” are gonna be foookin DEAFENING! And it won’t matter whether its HRC or BHO. And that assumes that Cheney doesn’t issue blanket pardons to every Regime official under suspicion.
FTW = FU(K THE WAR
April 30th, 2008 at 2:19 pmThere is no place in a democracy where all men are created equal for anyone to have the authority to grant a pardon for a crime. This fault in our system of government needs to be amended. A president could perhaps grant a pardon after the imposition of a sentence but only after the sentence is completed or time off for good behavior. A pardon should only restore legal rights such as the right to vote, hold office or practice a professtion.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:28 pmThe power to pardon or (as a subset of pardon) to commute is an absolute and unreviewable power. It has the greatest possibility of abuse by the person wielding the authority. It is not enough to say that the person had the power, you must also hold the person accountable for using the power in a responsible manner. Critical and public review of the use of such unreviewable and unappealable exercises of discretion is the only means of preventing the subversion of the tool from one of justice into the mark of a regal power.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:56 pmGOD SAVE THE KING!!!
April 30th, 2008 at 3:31 pm“Creates the impression ?” Hell no it was a pass. Two Border Agents get 10 years for discharging their weapon at a fleeing drug smuggler and failing to write a report. Libby rats out a CIA undercover agent and how many others and gets a pass.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:43 pm