Judges' Comments at Sentencing Require Do-Overs, Appeals Court Says
Is a musical chairs sentencing game under way in the courtrooms of two Florida judges?
For at least the second time this year, a state appeals court today ordered that a convicted felon be resentenced because of comments by the judge. Circuit Judge David Gooding went too far when he told armed robber Ronald Jackson, 22, he was getting 25 years due to his lack of remorse, ruled the 1st District Court of Appeal, because this penalized Jackson for his claim of innocence.
In January, the court held that Circuit Judge John Merrett also went too far in his comments to ex-Mayo Clinic doctor Irfan Nawaz, criticizing him for statements about the child-solicitation case in which he was convicted and for referencing the physician’s national origin, reports the Gavel blog of the Florida Times-Union.
Nawaz is now scheduled to be resentenced by Judge Gooding next week, the newspaper notes.
