Panel: Sentencing

Of all the decisions facing trial judges, those surrounding sentencing are the most difficult. Public opinion focuses on the sentencing of criminal defendants - particularly those defendants whose trials have received media attention - and public outrage results from what is perceived as a light sentence. Judges are called upon to be tougher on criminals, and women judges in particular are perceived as being too lenient. The NAWJ, in recognition of the difficulty faced by all judges in the area of sentencing, presented the panel on Sentencing to share and discuss viewpoints on this issue