Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLouisiana SC upholds Black man's life sentence for stealing hedge clippers more than 20 years ago
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/us/louisiana-supreme-court-trnd/index.htmlA Black Louisiana man will spend the rest of his life in prison for stealing hedge clippers, after the Louisiana Supreme Court denied his request to have his sentence overturned last week.
Fair Wayne Bryant, 62, was convicted in 1997 on one count of attempted simple burglary. In his appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Louisiana in 2018, his attorney, Peggy Sullivan, wrote that Bryant "contends that his life sentence is unconstitutionally harsh and excessive."
Last week, though, the state Supreme Court disagreed -- with five justices choosing to uphold the life sentence.
The lone dissenter in the decision was Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, who wrote that "the sentence imposed is excessive and disproportionate to the offense the defendant committed." Johnson is the only female and Black person on the court. The rest of the justices are White men.
Fair Wayne Bryant, 62, was convicted in 1997 on one count of attempted simple burglary. In his appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Louisiana in 2018, his attorney, Peggy Sullivan, wrote that Bryant "contends that his life sentence is unconstitutionally harsh and excessive."
Last week, though, the state Supreme Court disagreed -- with five justices choosing to uphold the life sentence.
The lone dissenter in the decision was Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, who wrote that "the sentence imposed is excessive and disproportionate to the offense the defendant committed." Johnson is the only female and Black person on the court. The rest of the justices are White men.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
9 replies, 885 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (15)
ReplyReply to this post
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Louisiana SC upholds Black man's life sentence for stealing hedge clippers more than 20 years ago (Original Post)
WhiskeyGrinder
Aug 2020
OP
judesedit
(4,443 posts)1. A bunch of ignorant mofo's proving BLM protests are necessary
OregonBlue
(7,754 posts)2. That is just plain criminal.
Thekaspervote
(32,793 posts)3. So so sad...while the squatter in the WH pardons real criminals
magicarpet
(14,168 posts)4. What a travesty of justice, they should be ashamed.
Less than $100 item that he stole. It costs the state $31,000.00 per year to lock this man up. It has cost the state $682,000.00 thus far. He is 62 years, if he lives another 10 years that is another $310,000.00.
$992,000.00 paid to lock him up for an item costing less than $100.
Delarage
(2,186 posts)5. Habitual Offender Law
Bryant was convicted in 1979 for attempted armed robbery, in 1987 for possession of stolen things, attempted forgery of a check worth $150 in 1989 and for simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling in 1992, all before his 1997 arrest for the failed attempt at stealing the hedge clippers.
But still. Trump refuses to pay contractors (isn't that theft?), lies, cheats and steals, admits to sexual assault---habitually--and he's (technically at least) the President.
But still. Trump refuses to pay contractors (isn't that theft?), lies, cheats and steals, admits to sexual assault---habitually--and he's (technically at least) the President.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)6. Can't even deal with this shit anymore.
I am so beyond angry tonight.
Disaffected
(4,568 posts)7. As the full article noted, he was originally sentenced
under the habitual criminal statute (four priors).
I don't think that justifies a life sentence but it's a lot more than simply "for stealing hedge clippers".
I suppose the rational is that if he is let out, he will likely repeatedly re-offend so better off in jail.
NotANeocon
(423 posts)8. That's what happens when -
- your judicial system is founded on vengeance and racism and not founded on justice.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,432 posts)9. .