Posted on 12/20/2009 4:23:14 AM PST by Daffynition
Last week, two New Hampshire judges presiding over high-profile cases made responsible rulings worthy of note.
On Wednesday, Strafford County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Brown denied Eric Grant's request for early release from prison. Grant is serving the 19th year of a 27-year to life sentence for murder. In 1990, he was convicted, after pleading guilty, of beating his wife, Brenda Grant, to death.
Appallingly, the state Department of Corrections, which is supposed to protect the people of New Hampshire, pushed hard for Grant's release. The department wanted to release Grant, and numerous other inmates, to save money.
"This is one of the first types of these hearings to come before a court, and the inmate population is waiting to see how it goes," Rodney Roy, recreation director at the state prison, told Judge Brown. "If it goes favorably, they'll see a light at the end of the tunnel."
We're supposed to grant early release to a man who murdered his wife for the purpose of giving other convicts hope?
Judge Brown had more sense than to buy that argument or be swayed by Grant's accomplishments while in prison, including earning multiple degrees and becoming a noted furniture maker.
"I think the deterrent effect remains. Early release would undermine that," Brown said in denying Grant's petition. "I am not convinced that you have been sufficiently punished."
In another important case, Rockingham County Superior Court Judge Kenneth McHugh threw out a frivolous lawsuit against Candia Woods Golf Links. Paul Sanchez, 67, of Manchester, lost the vision in his right eye when he hit himself with his own golf ball in 2006. He whacked the ball off a yard marker that was less than 20 yards away.
In February, he sued the golf course.
Judge McHugh wisely tossed out the case.
In each of these decisions, the judge held the individual responsible for his own actions and denied ridiculous requests to escape the consequences. Kudos to Judges Brown and McHugh for these sensible rulings.
They could save money by releasing people serving time for possession of half an ounce of pot, but instead they work to release murderers. Gotta find out who the hell is in charge of these petitions at the DoC.
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