Are any of you criminal attorneys?
Well i am, and practice alot of criminal law, not major offenses like murder or rape or anything, but minor offenses including some felonies.
I have been before many really tough judges who refused to grant my clients any leeway or slack, so there is definitely not a proliferation of liberal criminal judges. There are some judges who are more lenient than others for sure though, but ive never seen a judge be irresponsible.
One point @Ginx snewx doesnt understand is that there are limited resources in the judicial system. Half the time there arent enough court officers in the criminal courts due to funding issues, and our jails are over crowded. Also, putting guys in jail for years for minor violations destroys society, as many of these people are fathers, husbands, and hard working employees who make a mistake. Start putting everyone in jail and you will crush the taxpayer, families, and the economy.
Again, unless you have been in the criminal court system representing either the government or defendants, you have no idea what you are talking about.