Carried Back to Old Virginny

On Tuesday October 28, 2008, Chesapeake Circuit Court Judge Bruce Kushner sentenced Jamal Mann to 40 years in prison in the murder of his girlfriend, Akayla Cuffee (http://hamptonroads.com/2008/10/chesapeake-man-sentenced-40-years-girlfriends-death). This came just one day after Chesapeake Judge Randall Smith sentenced Margaret Garnes to only 15 years for murdering her husband.
Both murders were committed during domestic disputes after the victims attempted to leave. Both defendants were found guilty of second degree murder. Margaret Garnes was also found guilty of a weapons charge for shooting her husband. Furthermore, it was asserted that Mann may have had mental problems. So why was there such a huge difference in their sentences?
The difference in these cases is obvious—Mann is an African-American man and Garnes is a Caucasian women. Apparently justice is Chesapeake is not far removed from the days of Jim Crow. Kushner and Smith preside over their courtrooms like a pair of red—neck good old boys complete with everything but the lynch mob. Are crimes committed by African-Americans really three times as bad as those by whites?
Sadly, Mann was probably still better off in Chesapeake considering that just the day before, Norfolk Judge Karen Burrell sentenced Brandon Jamale Wade (http://hamptonroads.com/2008/10/attackers-sentencing-victim-relives-her-anguish) to two life terms plus 38 years for rape.
None of these judges was elected by the people. They were e selected by politicians with no input from the citizens. Often--as with Judge Smith—only after making contributions to their political campaigns. Even at that, they still often ignore the law and violate our civil rights. It’s time that biased judges are removed from our courtrooms. We don’t need to go back to Old Virginny.