Opinion ID: 1683625
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: motion for reduction of sentence

Text: Defendant states: 1. He plead (sic) guilty to possession of marijuana. According to the evidence, the quantity was two cigarette butts and sufficient quantity to roll one cigarette. ... . 3. He has no prior criminal record; married with two children; poor; black; 33 years old; lost his good job because of his arrest; and was working full time on another job prior to sentencing. ... . 6. This Court sentenced him to the MAXIMUM JAIL TIME ... i.e., one year ... 7. Another recent case in the same Court: (a) Defendant John L. Hendrick. (b) Alleged owner of Crest Lounge and Liquor Store in Crestview, Florida. (c) Arrested and charged with five felonies that carry a maximum 25 years jail. (d) Five felonies dismissed with leave of this Court. (e) Charged with four alleged misdemeanors with allegedly a maximum of four years jail time. (f) Sentenced to NO JAIL TIME by Magistrate's Court. (g) Fined approximately $52,100.00 plus gave up jewelry and a 1974 Lincoln Town Car. (h) The alleged crimes involved dealing in firearms and illegal food stamps. 8. Is that equal justice? 9. Is justice for sale? Chief Judge Stafford wrote respondent as follows: Dear Mr. Pascoe: ... . Paragraph 8 asks, Is that equal justice? This is followed by paragraph 9 which contains this question, Is justice for sale? Forgetting for the moment whether a question is even proper style for a motion, I believe this Court is entitled to know the substance of those two inquisitorial allegations. If you have some reason to suspect that Senior Judge Arnow and the Magistrate of this Court, or either of them, is engaged in any illegal, unethical or other improper judicial conduct, then you have a duty to report the facts to the proper authority. If on the other hand, you were merely overly exuberant in stating your position, then you have an equal duty to rectify the matter by letters to Judge Arnow and Magistrate Crongeyer with copies to the Court file. My concern is that you may have inadvertently done them, and yourself, a disservice by a poor choice of language in drafting your motion. Some persons might construe the Motion as a suggestion by you that these two judicial officers were not dispensing equal justice, or even more disturbing, that justice was for sale in this Court. As noted above, if this was truly your intent, then you have an ethical duty to do more than suggest it in a motion. If this was not your intent, then as a member of the Florida Bar and officer of this Court, you should see to it that no such implication can remain against these two men. In either event, I shall expect you to attend to this immediately. Very truly yours, William Stafford Chief Judge Respondent's reply to Judge Stafford, dated September 3, 1982, stated: To Judge Stafford: I have no evidence whatsoever that Judges Arnow and/or Crongeyer are engaged in any illegal, unethical, or other improper judicial conduct or that justice was for sale (as far as they are concerned). In fact, now that I've been asked to state my opinion, I have the greatest of respect for the two judges. The only evidence I have of not dispensing equal justice is included in my Motion for Reduction of Sentence, which I consider a glaring example of unequal justice. But, certainly not unique. A basic default with our justice system. I had hoped that where this unequal sentencing was pointed out to Judge Arnow with is justice for sale and is that equal justice, he would rectify it. I believe the dispensing of unequal justice assists in supporting the low opinions of many of our judicial system. Read over my motion and see if it doesn't. It is wrong, I do not agree with it, and therefore I'll fight it. Sincerely, David Pascoe I think it clear there were no allegations against the judges in question but merely an unorthodox motion filed by respondent in an effort to obtain what he believed was a fair sentence for his client. Accordingly, I cannot conclude that discipline is proper for this alleged misconduct. SHAW and KOGAN, JJ., concur.