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With the exception of mandatory minimums, sentencing usually is broadly subjective with judges having significant leeway. In contrast, convictions are based on
by tristor 6y ago
With the exception of mandatory minimums, sentencing usually is broadly subjective with judges having significant leeway. In contrast, convictions are based on juries who are provided strict instructions on how they must arrive at a verdict. Swaying the judge can you get you lighter sentencing but has no impact on the verdict.
- modeless 6y agoOf course that's how it works in theory. I'm just surprised (and encouraged) to find that it appears to be true in practice.
- happytoexplain 6y agoI'm aware of this distinction, and yet I too am a little surprised, only because I'm so used to seeing people manage to convince themselves against fairly objective truths in the name of following their emotions.
- sukilot 6y agoBut why aren't juries swayed by the lawyers and defendants? I'd guess it's because conviction is binary, so there's very little signal for "guilty vs very guilty", "innocent vs maybe innocent"