SeanJan 11, 2023
Eliza Orlins 

There is no “justice” system.

Today, Trump Org CFO Weisselberg is being sentenced to five months jail.

On a five month sentence, he'll serve approximately 100 days.

As a public defender in Manhattan, I represented a man who was sentenced to 3-6 years (and will serve 1500+ days) for stealing a jacket.

Jan 10, 2023 at 10:21amWeb
Show threadJohn SchroederJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins I don’t have the words to describe how awful that is. We hold ourselves up as a beacon of freedom and equality before the law. Not at all. More hopefully, not yet.
Show threadAutomandan 🇨🇦🍁 🇺🇦Jan 10, 2023
@johnschroeder @elizaorlins nobody regards America as a beacon of justice anymore.
Show threadSamuelJohnsonJan 18, 2023
@automandan53 @johnschroeder @elizaorlins any more? When was it ever?
Show threadBoethiusJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins Tell more, your jacket thief no doubt had an extensive criminal history.
Show threadEllens2CentsJan 10, 2023
@Boethius @elizaorlins And Weisselberg didn’t have an extensive history of criminality in his role at Trump Org? And his actions didn’t screw more people?
Show threadgavinisdie Jan 10, 2023
@Boethius @elizaorlins it's just a jacket
Show threadtolortsluborJan 10, 2023
@Boethius @elizaorlins How much prison time would you give someone for stealing a jacket who doesn’t have one?
Show threadBoethiusApr 24, 2023

@tolortslubor @elizaorlins Was the victim an adult with Down Syndrome?

My point is that there’s a lot to a judicial resolution that can’t be quantified in a simple comparison.

Hold back the outrage and do the homework of gathering information

Show threadAndrew ChinJan 10, 2023
@Boethius @elizaorlins On what theory would that warrant enhanced sentencing?
Show threadBoethiusApr 24, 2023

@chin @elizaorlins A recent article in The NY Times recently reported there are some 300 people responsible for tens of thousands of shoplifting crimes in that city.

Why assume shoplifting is a crime of necessity? There are GUCCI jackets that do no more to keep a person warm than a Walmart windbreaker.

My point was more information was needed before reacting with outrage.

Show threadAndrew ChinApr 24, 2023
@Boethius @elizaorlins Assuming you’re still attempting to engage with the OP, the comparison she drew was to a specific case in which she was representing the defendant. It’s the height of mansplaining to tell her that you’re better informed about the defendant she represented than she is because you read some NYT article.
Show threadBoethiusMay 8, 2023

@chin @elizaorlins

The writer of the post was the Defense attorney who lost the case with a terrible consequence to the Defendant.

Yes, there is probably more to the story than a conclusion the system failed. If Andrew Chin dismisses that possibility as the “height of mansplaining” why is he a law professor?

Show threadPhoenixSerenityJan 10, 2023
@Boethius @elizaorlins Please return to Twitville with crap like that.
Show threadneatcheeJan 11, 2023

@Boethius @elizaorlins I see, so people get to commit millions of dollars of tax fraud once before really getting hit for it, eh? But if you shoplift three times then it's years in jail

Seems fair to me! /s

gtfo. You don't even know. You're speculating and even then your morals are crap.

Fuggin boot-licker

Show threadAlexander KarnJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins Worse than no justice system, we have two systems, one for the resourced, one for the unresourced.
Show threadKatLSJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins 🥺it feels a lot like bits of British history when corruption and cowardice, grift , laziness,and greed left the kingdom open to invaders who happily showed up and took their stuff.
Show threadJohn Yarlett aka Scooby62Jan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins it isn't justice but at least it is jail time. It shows that he isn't 'untouchable'
Show threadKevin Karhan Jan 10, 2023

@elizaorlins jail is only for the poor.

Remember: #Shkreli was jailed for defrauding investors, not for mass-murder by predatory pricing of essential medication to the point that most people can't afford it!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shkreli#Criminal_prosecution_and_conviction

Martin Shkreli - Wikipedia

Show threadEllens2CentsJan 10, 2023
@kkarhan @elizaorlins Good point.
Show threadGoldfish 🐠Jan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins it is sad, but it is an old story. In the current context, the U.S. had two justice systems. One for wealthy, mostly white guys, and one for everyone else. There is no pretense of anything else. It only stops when the majority start saying no acting on that sentiment at the ballot box and with their economic power.
Show threadTed Tocks CoversJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins So sad and yet so true. 🤬
Show threadSharonbw stands with MinnesotaJan 10, 2023

@elizaorlins

It's always who you know and how much money you have.

Show threadmeeperJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins on what grounds could the judge even justify give such such a sentence for a petty crime like that
Show threadPhotoist♾️Jan 10, 2023

@elizaorlins

Two "Justice Systems": One for the wealthy, and another for everyone else.

Weasel-berg did NOT live up to the terms of his plea deal, in my opinion.

Show threadAris TeonJan 10, 2023

@elizaorlins Things are a bit more complicated than that, though:

"As part of his deal with prosecutors, Weisselberg could have faced added time behind bars if he did not testify truthfully at trial, which ended with the Trump Organization being convicted of all counts"

https://news.yahoo.com/former-trump-organization-cfo-allen-140000697.html

Yahooist Teil der Yahoo Markenfamilie

Show threadNormal GuyJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins sorry to be cynical but that is white and rich privilege. It sucks big time 😡
Show threadJohny_AnnonyJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins there is a separate and distinct two-tiered justice system. One for the rich and well connected and one for the rest of us.
Show threadConstantine EliasJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins after paying nearly $2 million in taxes, penalties and interest and testifying at the criminal trial of the Trump Organization, so I get what you're saying, but say it all.
Show threadCamerondotcaJan 10, 2023
@spartanfilmguy @elizaorlins if it can be fixed with a fine, then it's only a crime for the poor. She did say it all. You just amplified.
Show threadmpmaddogJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins TOTAL BS. .our justice system needs reform and MONEY needs to be blocked out of JUSTICE..dammit.
Show threadCatherine is not complacentJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins this is not unusual. White collar criminals have almost never had to face real consequences for their actions . Steal $100 with a gun, 20 years. Steal a million with a pen, pay a fine.
Show threadKorgie D. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈Jan 10, 2023
@CatDragon @elizaorlins A fine that is often significantly less than what you took, at that.
Show threadAlyce MillerJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins $$$$$ speak volumes
Show threadBlarr MlaxxJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins Tiered justice.
Show threadSriram "sri" Ramkrishna - 😼Jan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins This is just sad and a travesty. How can we have this kind of sentencing when normal people terrible sentences, and non-white gets much longer and harsher sentencing compared to these people who have defrauded millions of dollars. From a societal harm, they are seeing the man who solda jacket causes more harm than a man who absconded with millions of dollars.
Show threadcaptpayneJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins correct. The dept of Justice is a bad joke.
Show threadRichservo Jan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins Rich people are above the law. That's what happens when money is speech. Name one rich murderer that was sentenced to death or even life. The only time criminals get decent sentences is when the defraud the government (as long as they aren't working FOR the government.)
Show threadWOKE WOMAN FROM TUCSONJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins Thats just BS
Show threadCjJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins The injustice of our Justice system is beyond belief. It apparently pays to be Donald Trump or work for him. The rich and well connected have every advantage. The poor or POC are locked up for the smallest infractions. Enough already!! It’s sickening and infuriating. Lord, we’re living in the era of serfdom again.
Show threadScenarioJan 10, 2023
@BaldEagleGram @elizaorlins The Establishment is counting on the fact that most Americans are too lazy or too self-medicated to riot.
Show threadScenarioJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins Where is the public outrage?
Show threadgavinisdie Jan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins Justice is Business (Fuck CCA)
Show threadDagnabbit, Pascaline! 💥Jan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins
The ones in power define their lives and have all they need to adjust reality to their liking. It's a sick system. It makes me sad.
Show threadAndreas KJan 10, 2023

@elizaorlins
But was the jacket stealer rich? As an attorney you should know that in practice the law is different for different classes of people.

Yes, the marketing message is that everyone is the same before the law, but especially as a lawyer you should know the difference between theory and practice.
@Dahlialith

Show threadMax ImmunityJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins - You're forgetting "The Golden Rule": Those with the gold make the rules. :/
Show threadLabrador GirlJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins The punishment for stealing a jacket should be the gift of a free jacket. Man needed a jacket.
Show threadAldo BrunoJan 10, 2023

@elizaorlins

Justice is not blind.
Free markets are not free.
Free speech is not free.
All men are not created equal.
Democracy is just a cover for exploitive capitalism.

America has never been a country, it’s a mismanaged business.

Show threadfloydgumpJan 16, 2024
@CiaoBruno @elizaorlins Yep when greed rules it always ends the same.
Show threadMegan MorrisJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins
Fascists need heavier prison sentences. I don't condone theft (your client was deservedly jailed) but shouldn't being a fascist guarantee a much heavier prison sentence since these people are a threat to our democracy?
Show threadMilcom MiasmaJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins I'm worried that there is no longer compassion or consideration of circumstance, only a process with baked-in deference to money and power. This can't be the way forward.
Show threadSomethingInTheWaterJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins No justice indeed 🥺
Show threadPaul Gass-FeeleyJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins so true,
Show threadMean Mr. MustardJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins
As others have noted, no justice for wealthy criminality. When does this change? I don't know. However, given how our legal system works, if you are wealthy, ima going to immediately assume uncaught criminality and dangerous - just by default. I think that is fair given how the poor are considered.
Show threadVice SquadJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins just shows how the wealthy benefit from good lawyers when us reg folks get unequal justice
Show threadsteveJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins this is wild!
Show threadJohn BreenJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins I'm sure the jacket man could have gotten off with a lighter sentence if he or a friend was willing to spend $10M. It's interesting to imagine having the resources to outspend and wear-down the US government, make it "not worth their while".
Show threadMark vWJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins With no priors? What an outrage!
Show threadCat Food CasseroleJan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins
I read this recently and it makes all the sense as far as how our society works:
Show threadKBSez ✅Jan 10, 2023

@elizaorlins

it is total bullsh!t. Everyone knows he lied when he protected trump but none of them had the balls to say it.

Show threadAdlai2Jan 10, 2023
@elizaorlins grrr 😖