From Deseret News archives:
Justices urged to review Salt Lake case
The case of Weldon Angelos has become a rallying point by legal experts who say the high court is overdue in reviewing the constitutionality of minimum mandatory sentences in the federal system.
On Friday, a friend of the court brief, known as an amicus brief, was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, bearing signatures of support by former U.S. attorneys general Griffin Bell, Benjamin Civiletti, Nicholas Katzenbach and Janet Reno. The brief has also been signed by former FBI director William Sessions. Joining the group are more than 100 other former federal judges and federal prosecutors who assert that Angelos' 55-year sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. They also argue that such laws take control away from sentencing judges.
A similar amicus brief was filed by essentially the same group when Angelos appealed his sentence before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.
Angelos, who was sentenced in 2002, could be well over the age of 70 before he is eligible to be released.
The defense team for Angelos lauded Friday's complementing brief, saying it was "rare show of support" by opponents of minimum mandatory laws.
"There's a lot of support for it," said former chief justice for the Utah Supreme Court, Michael Zimmerman, whose law firm of Snell & Wilmer is donating attorney resources in Angelos' appeal.
Currently the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to hear the case.
"It is an unusual and extremely welcome action by a group of exceedingly well-respected former federal judges, federal prosecutors and high-ranking justice officials," said University of Utah law professor Erik Luna, who has been helping with the appeal for several years now. "These individuals come from all points on the political and legal spectrum. ... It is a statement that the federal criminal justice system has lost its moral compass as a result of the increasing tendency to promulgate and utilize mandatory minimum sentencing laws."
Federal prosecutors have argued that the sentence is fitting and follows the will of Congress in getting tough on people who deal drugs with firearms in their possession. Last January the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with federal prosecutors. In response to the argument that Angelos was a first-time offender, the appellate judges said that had more to do with luck than anything else.
Zimmerman said he anticipates they will know if the nation's top court will agree to hear the case by late November.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com
Comments
- SLCC campus briefs 1:42 a.m.
- UVU campus briefs 1:40 a.m.
- SUU campus briefs 1:39 a.m.
- Utah State campus briefs 1:37 a.m.
- Utah Utes campus briefs 1:36 a.m.
- Y. cross country to nationals 1:34 a.m.
- Wolverine women win; Griffins lose 12:37 a.m.
- Photo: The Butler drilled it 12:37 a.m.
- Same old story for Jazz 12:35 a.m.
- Jazz game at a glance 12:32 a.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Crash on snowy road kills woman
- Born of water and the spirit
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- BYU happy to escape with victory
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
358 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - BYU happy to escape with victory
194 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - TCU plows past Utes, 55-28
134 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
106 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
So Great!!! So Proud - Love RSL - Bring Home The CUP!!!!!
mr cannon's bold assertation that the purpose of the first ammendemnt as...
Great great great game!!!! Nicky Rimando is a god! We're the most complete...
I had the game on DVR and just watched it. That was the most exciting game...
financially cannot this year, but I will watch loyally, how great to hear...
This is hardly surprising. Bennett has a remarkable arrogance which is also...
I guess that is why "they play the game" as Herman Edwards would say.. ...
What was the score of the LSU vs LA tech game? Alot closer than you'd like to...
Has Fedor not said that THIS IS OUR YEAR all year long? Go back and...
This is just a small glimpse of the future with Obamacare: corruption, waste...


You can be the first to comment on this story.