Judge Frederic Block reconsiders his approach to punishment after sentencing Walter Johnson to five life terms in 1997. Now at age 90, he decides to make changes.
In 1997, Walter Johnson, also known as King Tut, was convicted of robbery, cocaine possession, and witness tampering in a Brooklyn federal courtroom. Judge Frederic Block sentenced him to five life sentences, deeming him a danger to society. However, in a recent decision, Judge Block acknowledged that the punishment was too severe, attributing it to outdated laws and his own lack of experience at the time.
Now, 27 years later, Judge Block has granted Mr. Johnson’s petition for release, recognizing the need for reconsideration of overly punitive sentences. He believes that like prisoners who have evolved during their incarceration, judges also grow and gain insights over time. Judge Block’s decision to release Mr. Johnson reflects a shift in sentencing standards and a call for more thoughtful and compassionate approaches to justice.
At 90 years old, Judge Block is a seasoned jurist on the federal bench in the Eastern District of New York. He has witnessed changes in sentencing practices and has reflected on his past cases, leading him to advocate for revisiting harsh sentences. His recent decision to release Mr. Johnson highlights the importance of judicial maturity and the ongoing evolution of the justice system.
Source: The NY Times
