Court Opinion

ID: 9701159
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 22:08:02.612234+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:20.120126
License: Public Domain

SHOYER, Judge,
concurring:
I concur in the result.
This case must go back for resentencing because the Office of the District Attorney broke its commitment not to recommend specifically as to term of sentence. At the time of sentence, in violation of its commitment, the assistant district attorney specifically requested 35 to 70 years, which was the exact sentence subsequently imposed by the court.
Because of the bias and ill will shown by the sentencing judge, the remand must also go to another judge. To address the defendant as “Punk”, to call him an “animal”, and to observe “If there ever was a case where the death penalty should be imposed, I would gladly pull the switch on you, Chief” is to speak to defendant in a language which he undoubtedly understands. It is the language of the cold, *399cruel world in which he has unfortunately lived for 16 years, but when used by the Judiciary, it is degrading and entirely unnecessary. The sentencing judge should appear as the fountainhead of justice, not the spirit of revenge. Let the severity of the sentence speak for itself. No cacophany of phrases is needed.