Madoff Sentence "Legally Suspect And Grossly Unfair"
As a practical matter, whether Madoff got 150 years or 100 years or 50 years or 25 years is of no moment—he'll die in prison. But as a legal matter, there is a great deal of difference between an unsustainable sentence like this one and a reasoned one, like the 50 years that probation officials had suggested. If the sentence is appealed, I suspect a great many appeals court judges would reject it and order a lesser sentence.
None of this condones what Madoff did or the harm he caused to victims all over the world. Madoff is an all-time white-collar crook who really does deserve never again to breathe free air.
But our justice system is not built upon revenge or a thirst for disproportionate punishment. Some murderers get a fraction of the sentence Madoff received today. Worldcom's Bernie Ebbers got 25 years. Enron's Jeffrey Skilling got 24 years. Sam Israel got 20 years. Refco's Philip Bennet got 16 years.
Our sentencing laws are not based upon emotion, or upon what the victims might have done with the money they lost, or upon how famous and powerful they are. I could care less about what happens to Madoff. But we all lose when our judges lose sight of bedrock sentencing principles and instead make easy and popular choices.
More from Cohen: 150-Year Madoff Sentence Is "Symbolic"
