Court Opinion

ID: 9485609
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 11:22:19.161266+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:51:14.652072
License: Public Domain

NOONAN, Circuit Judge,
concurring and dissenting:
I concur in the opinion of the court except as to the sentences of over 700 years. The court says, “No one could dispute that a sentence of almost 750 years is harsh.” No one would bother to characterize such a sentence as “harsh.” It is simply incapable of execution.
No known human being has the capacity to live 700 years. No living human being is likely to live 700 years. On its face, the sentence is impossible to execute.
The United States asks us to affirm this sentence. It asks us to affirm a sentence that cannot be carried out. I do not believe that we should participate in this utterly empty gesture.