[genefromjersey]

Now, let's see: Rush was charged with obtaining 2000 prescription painkillers via prescription fraud.

Here's a Florida waitress,charged with possession of a bottle of percodet (sp?):

http://www.november.org/stayinfo/breaking06/PennySpence.html

Do you see any difference in the way the two defendants were treated ?

[Paleo Conservative]

Mandatory minimums for drug crimes gained popularity throughout the country in the late 1980s as part of the burgeoning war on drugs. Politicians promised that such laws would deter crime. Mandatory minimums were adopted in nearly every state, and on the federal level as well.

The laws give prosecutors more power in charging crimes, and take sentencing discretion away from juries and judges. While juries still decide on guilt, they and the judges do not decide sentences. Those are pre-ordained by a schedule of mandatory minimums.

I'd rather have juries determine punishments.

[longtermmemmory]

wrong.

You have to look to FL's first time drug offender court.

If rush had actually done what you represent he would not have qualified. Nice try.

Rush is going to maintain the not guilty plea and NEVER do any "plea" deal. He is just going to complete 18 months clean (with most likely early termination after 1/2 the time is completed)

This is actually different than your anecdote. You had a nurse who was aledgedly self medicating and had posession without a perscription.

Remember there were no similar drug shopping cases in the entire state. If you read the various rush threads that has been gon on over and over again.

Your example also involved a CAR CRASH, big difference. That alone bumps it out of drug court.

The big difference was that your nurse stoned behind the wheel was not investigated for YEARS only to achieve a zero net result.

[TASMANIANRED]

Rush was charged with 1 charge of Doctor shopping and nothing else.

No possession charges at all.