Shoe Bomber Ruling

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2003-12-31 01:24am

Got this from a forwarded e-mail, so it may or may not be a fabrication, which I'm certain one of our sniffer dogs will determine soon enough:

Shoe Bomber

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it? His trial is over. How much of this Judge's comments did you hear on TV? Everyone should hear what the judge had to say. This is worthy of your time. The real eye opener is that the News did not report anything on it.

US District Court Judge William Young statement in sentencing "shoe bomber" Richard Reid

---------------------

JUDGE WILLIAM YOUNG, SENTENCES THE SHOE BOMBER

US District Court Judge William Young made the following statement in sentencing "shoe bomber" Richard Reid to prison. It is noteworthy, and deserves to be remembered far longer than he predicts. I commend it to you and anyone you might wish to forward it to. (I hope you will read every word! Pray for more judges like this one.)

January 30, 2003, United States vs.. Reid.

Judge Young: "Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you."

"On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General."

"On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive with the other. That's 80 years."

"On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million."

"The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines."

"The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment."

"The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further."

"This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence."

"Let me explain this to you: We are not afraid of any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before."

"There is all too much war talk here. And I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, where we deal with individuals as individuals, and care for individuals as individuals, as human beings we reach out for justice, you are not an enemy combatant."

"You are a terrorist."

"You are not a soldier in any war."

"You are a terrorist."

"To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature."

"Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or that happens to be your view."

"You are a terrorist.And we do not negotiate with terrorists."

"We do not sign documents with terrorists."

"We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of line in this court."

"You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I know warriors. You are a terrorist."

"A species of criminal guilty of multiple attempted murders."

"In a very real sense Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were and he said you're no big deal."

"You are no big deal."

"What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific."

"What was it that led you here to this courtroom
today?

"I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I asked you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty, and admit you are guilty of doing."

"And I have an answer for you.. "

"It may not satisfy you. But as I search this entire record it comes as close to understanding as I know. It seems to me you hate the one thing that is most precious: You hate our freedom."

"Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, and to believe or not believe as we individually choose."

"Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry it everywhere from sea to shining sea."

"It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely."

"It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, and will go on in their representation of you before other judges."

"We are about it. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties."

"Make no mistake though: It is yet true that we will bear any burden, pay any price, to preserve our freedoms."

"Look around this courtroom. Mark it well."

"The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow it will be forgotten. But this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all
across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice.. Justice, not war. Individual justice is in fact being done."

"The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged. And juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically - to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice."

"See that flag Mr. Reid? That is the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. It always will."

"Custody, Mr. Officer. Stand him down."

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-12-31 01:27am

If I saw that speech in a movie, I would say that it's way too corny and melodramatic. I have a hard time believing that it was actually spoken in a real courtroom.

jegs2 · Post by **jegs2** » 2003-12-31 01:35am

According to Truthorfiction.com, the story is actually true.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-12-31 01:37am

Either he came up with that by himself or his speechwriters should be shot.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-12-31 01:38am

If so, then that's a rather self-indulgent judge. He was obviously trying to impress someone (and I don't think that "someone" was the shoe bomber).

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-12-31 02:27am

Self-righteous clatrap, sounds like it's right out of a shitty Jerry Bruckheimer movie. Australian judges aren't nearly so pretentious.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-12-31 04:26am

Vympel wrote:Self-righteous clatrap, sounds like it's right out of a shitty Jerry Bruckheimer movie. Australian judges aren't nearly so pretentious.

But don't they wear wigs and dresses and the like? And those weird flat ribbon collars? Or are those just British judges?

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2003-12-31 04:32am

Self-righteous judge, who the hell does he think he is ?

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-12-31 05:04am

Robert Treder wrote:But don't they wear wigs and dresses and the like? And those weird flat ribbon collars? Or are those just British judges?

No, they wear them as well. Putting on airs is a question of manner more than dress. I've read countless Australian (and some American) judgements while studying, I've never read something so ridiculously preachy.

MrAnderson · Post by **MrAnderson** » 2003-12-31 11:26am

evilcat4000 wrote:Self-righteous judge, who the hell does he think he is ?

He thinks he is a sitting judge of the United States of America. He thinks he is passing sentence on a man who attempted (albiet poorly) to murder several hundred Americans and foreigners in an act of terrorism.

He is right on both accounts.

Who the hell do you think you are? I will tell you. You are a loudmouthed internet buffoon hiding behind your computer and taking advantage of the lifestyle granted to you by people like this judge who support and defend the laws and ideals that make the United States of America what it is.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-12-31 11:40am

You know, a simple "We sentence you to..." works just as well as a longwinded, contrived speech attempting to improve your shot at reelection or reappointment or however they do it there, and the former is usually the accepted medium.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2003-12-31 11:55am

MrAnderson wrote:
evilcat4000 wrote:Self-righteous judge, who the hell does he think he is ?

He thinks he is a sitting judge of the United States of America. He thinks he is passing sentence on a man who attempted (albiet poorly) to murder several hundred Americans and foreigners in an act of terrorism.

He is right on both accounts.

Who the hell do you think you are? I will tell you. You are a loudmouthed internet buffoon hiding behind your computer and taking advantage of the lifestyle granted to you by people like this judge who support and defend the laws and ideals that make the United States of America what it is.

Read before you post. This judge is arrogant and self righetous in every way. It is hard to believe some would speak in a court of law like that.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-12-31 12:27pm

MrAnderson wrote:
evilcat4000 wrote:Self-righteous judge, who the hell does he think he is ?

He thinks he is a sitting judge of the United States of America. He thinks he is passing sentence on a man who attempted (albiet poorly) to murder several hundred Americans and foreigners in an act of terrorism.

He is right on both accounts.

Who the hell do you think you are? I will tell you. You are a loudmouthed internet buffoon hiding behind your computer and taking advantage of the lifestyle granted to you by people like this judge who support and defend the laws and ideals that make the United States of America what it is.

Do you hear that Mr Anderson? It is the sound of inevitability, it is the sound of you being a dickhead.

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2003-12-31 12:33pm

Hey, I thought that it was a good speech, besides he is right.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-01-01 03:18am

MrAnderson wrote:
evilcat4000 wrote:Self-righteous judge, who the hell does he think he is ?
He thinks he is a sitting judge of the United States of America. He thinks he is passing sentence on a man who attempted (albiet poorly) to murder several hundred Americans and foreigners in an act of terrorism.

He is right on both accounts.

Wrong. He obviously thinks his job is to wrap himself in the flag and make patriotic announcements rather than simply render impartial judgement according to the law, which is what a judge is supposed to do.

Who the hell do you think you are? I will tell you. You are a loudmouthed internet buffoon hiding behind your computer and taking advantage of the lifestyle granted to you by people like this judge who support and defend the laws and ideals that make the United States of America what it is.

Hey fuckhead, not all of us are Americans, and I doubt this judge did much in the way of establishing the society, laws, freedoms, and securities of the US anyway. That I would lay at the feet of men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and perhaps a shitload of soldiers in WW2. This judge is so far down the fucking list it ain't funny, if he even deserves to be on it. But by all means, if he "defended" the laws and ideals of the USA, perhaps you could show me his military service record. Or do you think that abusing your job in order to make political announcements (perhaps as a prelude to running for office somewhere) constitutes a brave defense of the nation?

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-01-01 03:25am

MrAnderson wrote:~snip~

The troll strikes again! Why don't you just take the fucking blue pill and leave?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-01-01 08:05am

Well there was the whole Ned Kelly telling the judge that he would be waiting in hell for his arrival.... but that was some time ago....

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-01-01 08:12am

Actually it sounds like something you would hear from a century plus a score of years ago, when some frontier judge was sentancing someone in the old west really. Purhaps he's a big fan of westerns...

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-01-01 01:11pm

Probably just liked the sound of his own voice.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-01-01 02:07pm

"This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence."

The speech should've ended right there. The rest of it looked like it came from a bad movie script, I thought it was hokey and jingoistic. It was a complete appeal to emotion that serves no purpose at all.

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-01-01 04:57pm

Unbelievable that he's allowed to use a court as a platform for such a self-indulgent speech. Leave it at the sentence, that's all anybody's going to pay attention to, and all that posturing just provides a better example to Reid of how arrogant some Americans can be.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2004-01-01 11:05pm

*snort* Arrogance is not a condition limited to Americans.

Post by **weemadando** » 2004-01-02 10:22pm

Someones gunning for a seat in Congress...

tharkûn · Post by **tharkûn** » 2004-01-03 12:49pm

weemando: Either that or a higher bench in the judiciary. I give even odds that this guy either comes up for an appelate nomination or runs for elected office.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-01-03 05:58pm

that speech definitely seems contrived. like he stayed up for a night or two writing it. maybe the judge in question was a preacher once upon a time? i haven't heard anything that preachy outside of a church. . . .

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