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
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman