Originally Posted By: klydon1
Originally Posted By: olivant
Kly, you've been in court when your clients have been sentenced. Although I 've attended a number of sentences, I've never heard a judge get personal. Do judges' pronouncement ever get personal? Do they ever say something like "You were so tough to assault that guy. Now you'll get a chance to prove just how tough you are"?


I just saw this post.

When I practiced criminal defense, very rarely would a sentencing judge offer any personal comments. There were lots of times where the judge was disgusted and had reason to be, and he/she would remark how offensive the crimes were. But I think most judges want to leave a clean sentencing record to minimize any arguments a defendant may have in appealing a sentence as unreasonable.

Crimes against children and the elderly were more likely to evoke outrage than murders and rapes though.


Given that both federal and state stutues contain sentencing guidelines, how likely is it that a prejudicial claim about a sentence due to personal bias would succeed?


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