Norm Pattis

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Give State Judges More Discretion In Sentencing

Monday, December 1, 2008 | by Norm Pattis | The Connecticut Law Tribune

Try as they might, lawmakers simply cannot make intelligent sentencing decisions about those convicted of a crime.

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Prosecutors Have Too Much Power To Determine Charges

Monday, November 24, 2008 | by Norm Pattis | The Connecticut Law Tribune

Check out the caption of a criminal case sometime. All are similar. State v. So-And-So; forever and always the left side of the "v" denotes the state. Yet, in all the criminal cases I have handled, I have never met the state. Indeed, I never can and I never will. The state is, in the very best sense of the term, a legal fiction. It is a necessary fiction.

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Mandatory Sentences Lead To Major Injustices

Monday, November 17, 2008 | by Norm Pattis | The Connecticut Law Tribune

Connecticut would do well to adopt comprehensive, non-mandatory sentencing guidelines in the criminal courts. The state's scattershot approach to the criminal law often works injustice and scarcely intelligible results. We can and should do better.

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Casting Votes

Monday, November 10, 2008 | by Norm Pattis | The Connecticut Law Tribune

As I write this, the results of the 2008 general election are unknown. Of one thing I am absolutely certain, however: My candidates did not garner enough votes for to win either the presidency or a seat in the House of Representatives. I know this because, so far as I know, I am the only person in the country to have cast write-in ballots for Elizabeth Kerrigan and Clarence Darrow.

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Sex Offender Punished For Trial Judge's Error

Monday, November 3, 2008 | by Norm Pattis | The Connecticut Law Tribune

We all have parallel lives, fantasy lands in which we get to play roles for which we are not suited. In mine, I am well-coifed and discrete, a quiet diplomatic sort given to saying just the right thing. I am rewarded for a lifetime of discretion by a seat on the state's Supreme Court. In reality, it ain't gonna happen.

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Prosecutors Are Allowed To Act With Impunity

Monday, October 27, 2008 | by Norm Pattis | The Connecticut Law Tribune

I wonder how many people unnecessarily languish in prison or labor under the disabling effect of a conviction? Notice that I did not ask about how many people are wrongfully convicted.

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Little Guy Is More In Need Of Bailout

Monday, October 13, 2008 | by Norm Pattis | The Connecticut Law Tribune

I need a bailout, and fast. I am set to leave the country for a few weeks. In fact, I am in the office just now for the express purpose of paying a few bills, writing this column and leaving a few farewell notes to the good folks watching my back. My wife and I leave in about 102 minutes, but, who's counting?

• Securities

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Taser Death Case Produces Some Stunning Information

Monday, October 6, 2008 | by Norm Pattis | The Connecticut Law Tribune

I sat down with the woman and promised her I would do my best, but these cases are difficult. "But why did they have to kill him?" she asked. She was careworn, sorrow a newfound friend.