During last week’s Rose Cafe, the Honorable Judge Scott Miller came to speak to us. He is a judge on the Ithaca city court until 2018 when he will run for a re-election. He graduated as an undergraduate from Cornell and he also graduated from Cornell Law School.

There were many topics discussed, but there were some that I found very interesting. One question that was asked was do the sentences or the preparation for sentences weigh on the judge’s mind?

He said that it did because he would be altering the course of a person’s life. However, he would not have felt as bad if he felt that his sentencing was for the benefit of that person’s life. He told us about a client that had a narcotics problem. They were not able to stop on their own. So the judge had to make a decision so this person would not able to harm themselves any further.

Ultimately, I appreciate Judge Scott’s visit because he touched upon topics regarding the criminal justice system. In the era of Mass incarceration, it is important to have a judge who understands the importance of a fair trial for defendants. As it is often seen in the media, many judges across the country fail to incorporate these principles into their practice and that can be disheartening.