| Derek Chauvin is scheduled to be sentenced in Minneapolis today for the murder of George Floyd, capping two months of speculation over his likely punishment and debate over the nature of justice — namely, how much time is enough. "Sentencing a convicted criminal is more art than science," Paul Butler writes in his latest column. "The desire for retribution is understandable when someone has taken an innocent life, but ought, in a civilized society, to be constrained by dictates of justice and mercy, even when the criminal himself has acted inhumanely." Some want to see Chauvin sentenced to as much as 40 years, the maximum Minnesota law allows for second-degree murder, his most severe offense. Chauvin's defense attorney has asked for probation. Most people expect the judge to come down somewhere in between. And Butler? To him, a fair result would be 18 years — not the maximum, but still "a very long time in prison." "Keeping it real, I wouldn't be too mad if the judge throws the book at Chauvin," Butler says. But "it's in the best long-term interests of racial justice in America if punishment is based less on emotion and more on reason."  (Handout/AFP/Getty Images) Regardless of what the judge decides, the focus should be on transforming the institution of policing. By Paul Butler ● Read more » | | | | American workers are getting choices, and chances, they never had before. By Catherine Rampell ● Read more » | | | | Giuliani disgraced his profession by defending Trump. By Ruth Marcus ● Read more » | | | | It's time to revise the Electoral Count Act. Republicans will support this, right? By Greg Sargent ● Read more » | | | The manufactured rage over critical race theory will eventually peter out, and then they'll have to find something else. By Paul Waldman ● Read more » | | | | Leaving masks at home may feel selfish and unscientific, but it is not. Masking is now unnecessary. By Margery Smelkinson ● Read more » | | | | The you of yesterday is killed to make room for the you of today who drives its cart over the old self's bones! By Alexandra Petri ● Read more » | | | Put aside the hot-button issues like abortion. This is where the court's conservative supermajority is really going to transform the country. By Paul Waldman ● Read more » | | | | This is a hard truth Democrats need to accept. By Marc Thiessen ● Read more » | | | | How Biden can ensure that both moderates and the left win in the infrastructure deal. By Greg Sargent ● Read more » | | | |
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