Pubdate: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2006 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Author: Ray Kelly Note: Kelly is Pres., New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Albany Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?140 (Rockefeller Drug Laws) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n942/a04.html DRUG SENTENCES, CASE BY CASE To the Editor: In "Setting Kingpins Free" (Op-Ed, July 16), the retired judge Leslie Crocker Snyder criticizes the Legislature's efforts to reform the Rockefeller drug laws, saying, "No one envisioned that the sentences of drug kingpins would be reduced." No meaningful definition of "drug kingpin" exists. The Legislature understood this, and refused to use such epithets to distinguish who should benefit from the law, and who should not. Some judges, much to Ms. Snyder's dismay, have exercised the power to sentence in the way thought best, based on individual circumstances. It appears that Ms. Snyder would prefer that judges seek her counsel on cases that appeared before her, before resentencing them. By publishing her stance on the Legislature's reforms to the draconian Rockefeller drug laws, she manages to remain in the public eye and jumpstart her next run for Manhattan district attorney. Ray Kelly Pres., New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Albany - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman