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U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

reuters.com

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Re: U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

#101

Post by josefresco »

zacksinclair wrote: post #98

> “It is, unfortunately, no exaggeration to say that a prison sentence today can amount to the imposition of a serious health crisis, even a death sentence, given the BOP’s (Federal Bureau of Prisons) current inability to control the spread of the coronavirus,” Levandowski’s attorneys wrote. I find this ridiculous for his attorneys to use as a defense against his potential incarceration. While likely true (and certai…

I dunno, if I was fighting for my freedom I sure would hope my attorneys do everything (legal) in their power to assist in my defense. Ridiculous or not it's a valid concern.

Re: U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

#102

Post by Nasrudith »

refurb wrote: post #69
raincom wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, "prosecutorial discretion" is one form in which corruption occurs.

Huh? The alternative is the prosecutor is required to prosecute everything crime cops bring to them, no matter the evidence or likelihood of conviction. Sounds worse than what we have now.

It is comparable to bueracratic systems vs "feudal" appointees with discretion. Despite the inefficiency, inflexibility, and occasional stupidity from bueracracies historically they have been an improvement especially for scalability. Essentially removing discretion would "bueracraticize" it compared to a more fiefdom style prosecutorial discretion.

There is some potential long term improvement of forcing legislators to write their laws better at the cost of far greater court load, travesties of justice, and similiar in exchange for lessened corruption. The improvemrnt part rests upon assumptions of outrage over the proper thing. Not the best of track records given dumb knee-jerk laws.

So yeah, almost certainly worse short term but it may be better long term. Not exactly an inspiring cause.

Re: U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

#103

Post by [deleted] »

josefresco wrote: post #101
zacksinclair wrote: post #98

> “It is, unfortunately, no exaggeration to say that a prison sentence today can amount to the imposition of a serious health crisis, even a death sentence, given the BOP’s (Federal Bureau of Prisons) current inability to control the spread of the coronavirus,” Levandowski’s attorneys wrote. I find this ridiculous for his attorneys to use as a defense against his potential incarceration. While likely true (and certai…

I dunno, if I was fighting for my freedom I sure would hope my attorneys do everything (legal) in their power to assist in my defense. Ridiculous or not it's a valid concern.

[deleted]

Re: U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

#104

Post by ensignavenger »

ebg13 wrote: post #99
ensignavenger wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to the previously cited case linked at https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/500/453/ , the law is actually very specific about the weight being the whole mixture.

Yes, sorry, that part of what I wrote was unclear, but that's what I meant. I edited to hopefully clarify.

In theory, the defense attorney would provide a counter-balance to this- unfortunately, our system does not provide adequate defense to folks who can't afford it. And that is the real tragedy, methinks.

Re: U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

#105

Post by raincom »

refurb wrote: post #69
raincom wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, "prosecutorial discretion" is one form in which corruption occurs.

Huh? The alternative is the prosecutor is required to prosecute everything crime cops bring to them, no matter the evidence or likelihood of conviction. Sounds worse than what we have now.

I am not defending "formalism", as you appear to suggest by "required to prosecute everything cops bring to them". One uses discretion to help their cronies--mostly super wealthy and powerful.

Re: U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

#106

Post by Simulacra »

credit_guy wrote: post #73

I was thinking I'd read that the head of the Uber self-driving car division at the time of the killing of Elaine Herzberg [1] is being pursued by prosecutors for her wrongful death. Instead, it's about some IP stuff. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Elaine_Herzberg

From what I see in a cursory search, the back-up driver Rafaela Vasquez of the self-driving car that killed Elaine Herzberg was looking at their phone most of the time, which led to the fatal crash. I can't seem to find anything about this person being charged with anything. IANAL: Would this not be involuntary manslaughter at least?

Re: U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

#107

Post by ohples »

Simulacra wrote: post #106
credit_guy wrote: post #73

I was thinking I'd read that the head of the Uber self-driving car division at the time of the killing of Elaine Herzberg [1] is being pursued by prosecutors for her wrongful death. Instead, it's about some IP stuff. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Elaine_Herzberg

From what I see in a cursory search, the back-up driver Rafaela Vasquez of the self-driving car that killed Elaine Herzberg was looking at their phone most of the time, which led to the fatal crash. I can't seem to find anything about this person being charged with anything. IANAL: Would this not be involuntary manslaughter at least?

Please don't use the word "accident" here. There was clearly negligence involved.

Re: U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

#109

Post by Simulacra »

ohples wrote: post #107
Simulacra wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From what I see in a cursory search, the back-up driver Rafaela Vasquez of the self-driving car that killed Elaine Herzberg was looking at their phone most of the time, which led to the fatal crash. I can't seem to find anything about this person being charged with anything. IANAL: Would this not be involuntary manslaughter at least?

Please don't use the word "accident" here. There was clearly negligence involved.

Thank you for pointing that out, I agree, and updated.

Re: U.S. prosecutors seek 27 months imprisonment for former Uber self-driving head

#110

Post by tdfx »

josefresco wrote: post #101
zacksinclair wrote: post #98

> “It is, unfortunately, no exaggeration to say that a prison sentence today can amount to the imposition of a serious health crisis, even a death sentence, given the BOP’s (Federal Bureau of Prisons) current inability to control the spread of the coronavirus,” Levandowski’s attorneys wrote. I find this ridiculous for his attorneys to use as a defense against his potential incarceration. While likely true (and certai…

I dunno, if I was fighting for my freedom I sure would hope my attorneys do everything (legal) in their power to assist in my defense. Ridiculous or not it's a valid concern.

Yeah I would say it's not ridiculous to ask for, but would be ridiculous if the judge granted it.
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