I would love to have been at this event Wednesday night. The LA Times’ Carol J. Williams reports that U.S. Supreme Court Justice (and wildly powerful court swing voter) Anthony Kennedy addressed a crowd of LA lawyers with courtly humor—except for the part where he took a couple of hard round-house swings at the state’s prison policy and at the CCPOA, the prison guards union.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy criticized California sentencing policies and crowded prisons Wednesday night, calling the influence that unionized prison guards had in passing the three-strikes law “sick.”
In an otherwise courtly and humorous address to the Los Angeles legal community, Kennedy expressed obvious dismay over the state of corrections and rehabilitation in the country. He said U.S. sentences are eight times longer than those issued by European courts.
“California now has 185,000 people in prison at $32,500 a year” each, he said. He then urged voters and officials to compare that expense to what taxpayers spend per pupil in elementary schools.“The three-strikes law sponsor is the correctional officers’ union and that is sick!” Kennedy said of the measure mandating life sentences for third-time criminal offenders.
POW! JAB! POW! POW!
Interesting. Particularly so in that the Supremes still have one more big case to hear in the near future regarding California’s prisons and the panel of three federal judges who are attempting to force a reduction in the state’s prison population.
MEANWHILE, THE LA CITY COUNCIL DELAYS PLANNED BUDGET-DRIVEN LAYOFFS IN RESPONSE TO EMOTIONAL PROTESTS BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PRESSURE FROM VARIOUS EMPLOYEE UNIONS
As to how the council is going to trim the necessary $$$ off the budget, it is not clear. David Zahnizer and Phil Willon have the gory details.
The growing cyborg that is the police industrial complex has finally caught the eye of the U.S. Supreme Court. Better tell your buddies to start taking some night classes and learn some skills, Sure Fire.
Amen! It’s nice to see that Supreme Court Justice Kennedy has an opinion concerning not only the draconian Calif Prison Industrial Complex, but who also understands and condemns the perverse, and sadistic prison guards union, who with mucho money at their disposal choose to use it for even more punitive “lock em all up” legislation such as the medieval “three strikes law”, more juvenile’s tried as adults, and longer determinate prison sentences, all in the interest of public safety of course (LMFAO!).
Hopefully Justice Kennedy’s comments are a harbinger of real prison reform coming down the pipe.
It really matters to the citizens of this state what Kennedy thinks about 3 Strikes. Follow the link and learn the truth.
I never worked in a prison.
http://www.threestrikes.org/
By the way, The Supreme Court upheld 3 Strikes in 2003. I think it’s caught their eye before Einstein.
We won’t pay attention to this post, as you think that Justice Kennedy is an idiot, after he voted to let corporations contribute to political campaigns.
The only sick thing about Three Strikes is the cavalier way that DAs like Steve Cooley try to circumvent it. I wonder if Justice Kennedy, who loves to follow all things European, happened to read the LA Times coverage of Lily Burk’s killer. Might change his feelings about Three Strikes.
Woody, I don’t think one has to be a fan of a SCOTUS justice to agree with their decision. Is there any political figure you’ve ever openly supported or voted for that you agreed with on every single issue? Your “gotcha” strategy when responding to Celeste’s reporting is just tiresome, and is hypocritical just about all of the time.
And, Woody, it’s good to see you’re back, btw. Were you embarrassed? Did you even know that it’s rude, and considered perverted in most circles, to use sexually suggestive language with women you don’t know intimately, and that people will make fun of you when you do so?
Winny, what do you mean that Justice Kennedy loves everything European? Any examples? Also, what would be wrong with him loving everything European, anyway?
And, why should Lily Burk’s murder change Justice Kennedy’s view on three strikes?
Better tell your buddies to start taking some night classes and learn some skills, Sure Fire.
………………………..
Better take his advice or you’ll end up bagging groceries.
Rob, I’ve read enough comments on this site to know that very few people have values of any kind, and I don’t think that you do either. Aren’t you embarrassed that you can’t discuss the topic but are fixated on me? How gay can you get?
Why would a Supreme Court justice not take exception to a special interest’s desire to promote locking up citizens to increase their ranks and the dues paid to their unions? The CCPOA (California Correctional Police Officers Association) and LAPPL (Los Angeles Police Protective League), the prison guard and LAPD labor Unions, care nothing about the people only their labor unions. Both are increasing the size and strength of their unions through fear tactics, as the wallets of the taxpayers are shrinking. For once, will the taxpayers realize that effective training and education will keep those who want to stay out of prison free? This will allow law enforcement to concentrate on those who will offend no matter what and truly need to be locked up.
I’m afraid this will be the first of many more examples in the state and county systems. I’m sure Robbie has no problem with the crime though, I mean it was only an attempt rape and that’s no tragedy.
http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-news-inmatearrest,0,6023015,print.story
What pricks up Sure Fire’s ears more than mentions of “open bar†and “free beer?”
Its Brewery/Distillery/Winery Tours.
Hey Sure Fire I know your boozing in hard times, so check if there’s a tour charge and how many samples you can expect to receive during and/or after the tour. Some companies are quite generous with their product, others will give you a single glass and something to fume about on the way home to the motel.
PS Belly up on your computer and sign up for the newsletters of every major liquor, beer and wine company you can find homie. Many of them conduct national taste tours and you’re likely to receive an email invitation when they roll into town. No la frieges guey.
Both are increasing the size and strength of their unions through fear tactics, as the wallets of the taxpayers are shrinking.
Yeah. These unions need to broken up. Just like the UAW.
Okay, dial back the personal stuff, guys.
Thank you.
Rob Thomas:
To answer your questions:
–Justice Kennedy has a widely known (and widely criticized) propensity to favor European theories of jurisprudence over domestic ones. You asked for examples; they are plentiful, do a Lexis-Nexis search. One that leaps to mind is the death penalty. There’s nothing wrong with liking Europe and I’m not being zenophobic; I like European cars, clothes, films, wine. But I worry about a Supreme Court justice who favors European Union theories of law over the US Constitution.
–You wonder how Lily Burk’s killing has anything to do with Three Strikes. Dude, drop a few quarters in a newspaper box from time to time. Her killer should have been put away for his previous (and very violent) strikes, but wasn’t, in a fuckup characteristic of Cooley’s office. That’s why he was on the street the day Lily Burk ran that errand, the last thing she did on earth.
Taxpaying Citizen, you’re out of your mind. Law enforcement unions are no different than any others and they came to be after officers got tired of constantly getting screwed over by crooked politicians, judges, lawyers and police higher ups who answered to them. They exert their influence same as any other union. Would there be a Police Officers Bill of Rights here if it wasn’t needed?
Show me a union whose leaders work out of a patrol car, execute search warrants or routinely deal with the scum of society day after day and show me how they “care about people”. Cops show it every day.
You’re full of crap.
Rob Thomas will defend any cholo by blaming his crimes on poverty and the system, only rich or white criminals are responsible for their crimes. But of course all cholos are victims of racism, povery, and white America. Just like Flip Wilsom used to say the “the devil made me do it”.
I wonder if R.T. still thinks he would rather live in a country run by mexican drug cartels than his evil supressors the Republicans?
Taxpaying Citizen, you’re out of your mind. Law enforcement unions are no different than any others
Exactly my point. They are like any other union. I’m sure if Mr. Thomas has such a huge problem with the police unions, he has the same problem with the UAW. My tongue was planted firmly in my cheek when I posted that. I have noticed Mr. Thomas’animosity toward all things concerning law enforcement.
Better tell your buddies to start taking some night classes and learn some skills,
Yeah I hear Safeway will hire just about anybody to be a bag boy.
Don Quixote said…
the medieval “three strikes lawâ€,
C’mon Don…mideval??? I do agree they need to make some changes to the law. I don’t think they should be giving these guy’s life for stealing a mountain bike or a pizza , which I believe were some of the first 3 stikes cases but let’s not forget why the 3 strikes law was enacted. Richard Allen Davis was a multiple repeat offender who should never have been walking the streets when he kidnapped and killed Polly Klaas.
I believe emotions were probabley running a little high when the law was passed and maybe there should be some changes. I have a homie do the big L for a couple ounces of meth and the fact that his wife owned a gun means he’ll never see the streets again. But I also know a few homies doing the L that the world is a safer place without them, sad but true.
, and is hypocritical just about all of the time.
HaHa !!! Did Rob Thomas really type that? I guess you gotta be a hypocrite to spot one eh Rob?