I thought judges are supposed to be wise?

[SLP]

Where is the wisdom in sending an honor student to jail "surrounded by suspected murderers, drug addicts and prostitutes" for missing too much school only because she was working to help support her family? Somehow this girl managed to work a full time and a part time job while still maintaining honor grades, and she gets punished for it?

In this day and age where too many people won't work hard and just want handouts, this girl should be commended, not punished. If there is an example of someone who could benefit from some assistance it would be her. I am glad it looks like her community has raised some money to assist her.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/28...o-much-school/

[RoadToad]

I agree, locking up someone like her is outrageous, but as it said in the article, "E. Tay Bond, a well-known Houston defense attorney, said the judge likely had no discretion to avert a jail sentence." Things like this are to be expected when you pass laws with mandatory sentences, and tie judges' hands.

[SLP]

I agree, locking up someone like her is outrageous, but as it said in the article, "E. Tay Bond, a well-known Houston defense attorney, said the judge likely had no discretion to avert a jail sentence." Things like this are to be expected when you pass laws with mandatory sentences, and tie judges' hands.

Yeah that could be the case but I almost have my doubts. If the Judges hands were truly tied one would think he would say so. I have heard many judges say publicly when they had no choice because of mandatory sentencing. Instead this is what the judge chose to say about the matter.

"If you let one run loose, what are you going to do with the rest of them? Let them go, too?" Moriarty told the station.

Also from the same article it is clear that a city councilman seems to believe the judge could have chosen differently.

Houston Councilman Al Hoang said what he worries about most is Tran's record.
"I’m going to ask the judge to expunge the record," Hoang told FoxNews.com. "The truancy laws should be applied case by case and in this case, it should not be applied. I believe Judge Moriarty should have used his discretionary power to excuse her from this matter."

[DJD]

Agreed this is crazy. I'm sure on the same day this happened more then one real criminal was given a break somewhere in that state. Judges are like anyone they have good and bad days, decisions and judgments. In this case he blew it.

[RoadToad]

Turns out the judge did have discretion in the matter, and he has since vacated the order, saying that at the time, he was not fully informed of the details of the case. Now her city rep is working to get her record cleared:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bes...hoang-tran.cnn

[DJD]

I watched the video and it sounds to me like he backed off his decision based upon public opinion and community pressure. Also sounds like he is being given a pass by the Asian community rep since he is talking pretty sweet about the judges "uninformed" ruling.
Imo.....The judge made an unpopular decision and now has the opportunity to make nice.

[SLP]

Thanks for the update. Just didn't seem like he was using the best common sense. But like someone said earlier in this thread, judges have good and bad days too. Of course their bad days have a little more impact on other peoples lives then most other peoples do.

[RoadToad]

That's right, and for that reason, I hope her record gets cleared.