In a recent turn of events that makes one question the judgement of our very justice system, a federal judge handed down an eight-year sentence to a person who attempted to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The decision feels baffling, considering that the Justice Department had pushed for a more fitting 30-year sentence. The rationale for the reduced sentence included some mitigating factors such as the would-be assassin identifying as transgender and a supposed change of heart that led to turning themselves in. It surely raises eyebrows when such factors hold weight in a criminal case of this magnitude.
Attorney General Pam Bondi didn’t mince words, calling the act a vile assault on the judicial system and expressing great displeasure with the leniency shown by the court. The Justice Department, thankfully, plans to appeal this sentence, which seems more like a weak slap on the wrist than actual justice. It’s peculiar that the attempted plot to kidnap the Governor of Michigan led to convictions twice the length of this attempted assassination on a Supreme Court Justice. One can only wonder if the decision was marinated in some sort of political sauce.
The public, and needless to say Kavanaugh’s family, have every right to feel insecure about this decision. With a mere eight years sentence, and likely less time actually served due to good behavior or other deductions, Justice Kavanaugh’s loved ones have to live with the haunting thought of what could have happened. Families might find themselves in constant worry about further unhinged attempts, and this light sentencing does little to assuage their fears. If this isn’t politicized justice, it’s hard to imagine what is.
Prominent voices in the conservative sphere argue that the country is now beginning to normalize political violence, feeding this phenomenon with lenient sentences and rhetoric that muddles right from wrong. They point out the disturbing trend where perceived microaggressions and cultural tensions justify extreme actions in the minds of some, reducing consequences to minor inconveniences instead of serious reprimands. It’s as if the lines between justice and political correctness have been blurred beyond recognition.
The need for a justice system that remains above the murky waters of politics cannot be overstated. A fair and unbiased judicial system serves as the backbone for democracy, ensuring that individuals receive the justice they deserve, irrespective of their identity or political affiliations. Hopefully, the appeal will lead to a more measured sentence that better reflects the gravity of attempting to assassinate a sitting Supreme Court Justice. Until then, one can only look on with a mix of disbelief and concern about the kind of justice being served with a side of apparent political seasoning.
