# Judge Lets Killer Drunk Driver Off Because He's Spoiled **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 12, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119 "2013-12-12T00:00:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/21 "2013-12-12T15:52:06Z")
When I read this sort of shit, I keep thinking it has to be some sort of satire, a joke. Because if it isn’t, rage starts to build. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/22 "2013-12-12T18:48:50Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Exactly what I was thinking. My kids had better never get drunk and kill somebody or they will be fucked. In my experience, it is common to get drunk and then get fucked; killing someone in the middle is an unnecessary step. > [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > I don’t think this is about reform. Its about keeping a proven threat to society away from law-abiding citizens. > > And get a few dozen people killed this time? Thanks… For “fun” I googled the kid’s name. The top hits are such luminaries as the Daily Mail, HuffPo, and the NY Daily News. While the way this is presented could be true, I refuse to extrapolate from internet stories and perpetuate urban legends or get in a RO train, god knows we’ve had enough of those from “legitimate” news bureaus. The courtroom would’ve had many arguments about one’s propensity to re-offend. Besides, Texas. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/23 "2013-12-12T18:50:06Z")
Behold the judge: _[http://www.yourhonor.com/IC-Online/IC\_Spring11/JeanBoyd.html](http://www.yourhonor.com/IC-Online/IC_Spring11/JeanBoyd.html)_ ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/24 "2013-12-12T19:25:02Z")
Bleeding hearts abound ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/25 "2013-12-12T19:45:33Z")
Spoiled as 6-month-old milk! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/26 "2013-12-12T21:09:19Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Money buys you smooth tongued lawyers. One wonders how much money bought that judge too. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/27 "2013-12-12T21:19:55Z")
From another nearby thread, we have this suggestion: > [@RO: So many better ways to kill yourself...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/5): > > I remember a case in my city, may years ago, where a guy who had both alcohol and illegal drugs in his system went speeding down a street at 100 miles an hour. He hit another car carrying two moms and four kids. All six of them died, the dwi driver survived with minor injuries. So two men were widowed and childless. > > I don’t remember the sentence. But if I had been those husbands I might have argued for leniency. _“Just let him out soon, judge, only tell us where and when.”_ While **Baker** ’s suggestion was kinda-sorta inappropriate in that thread (it had to do, apparently, with a depressed suicidal guy), it seems a better fit for this case. And by golly, **Baker** ’s suggestion is exactly what this guy got. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/28 "2013-12-12T21:22:40Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Behold the judge: > > _[http://www.yourhonor.com/IC-Online/IC\_Spring11/JeanBoyd.html](http://www.yourhonor.com/IC-Online/IC_Spring11/JeanBoyd.html)_ I would’ve pictured more [like this](http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Roy_Snyder), but he’d probably be stricter. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/29 "2013-12-12T22:08:13Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I would’ve pictured more [like this](http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Roy_Snyder), but he’d probably be stricter. More like [Judge Whitey](http://futurama.wikia.com/wiki/Ron_Whitey) presiding. ---
**Author:** ![NotMyselfOfLate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/df705f/32.png) [@NotMyselfOfLate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMyselfOfLate)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/30 "2013-12-12T23:32:59Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Behold the judge: > > _[http://www.yourhonor.com/IC-Online/IC\_Spring11/JeanBoyd.html](http://www.yourhonor.com/IC-Online/IC_Spring11/JeanBoyd.html)_ That looks like a judge, alright. What was your point? ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/31 "2013-12-13T00:15:49Z")
Affluenza? Seriously? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/32 "2013-12-13T03:11:19Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Me, I’m always looking for a precedent. > > “Your honor, this young man was _ **so rich** _, that he was never taught right from wrong and he thought he could get away with anything. Therefore he should be given only probation for killing those four people.” > > “Your honor, this young man was _ **so poor** _, that he was never taught right from wrong and he thought he could get away with anything. Therefore he should be given only probation for killing those four people.”. Damn I hate being middle class…we get nothing again! ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/33 "2013-12-13T05:25:39Z")
> [@NotMyselfOfLate](#): > > That looks like a judge, alright. > What was your point? Nothing. What’s yours? ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/34 "2013-12-13T05:49:19Z")
Not to be overly dramatic but I can’t imagine being the guy whose wife and daughter were killed by this little bastard. I seriously would dedicate the rest of my existence to killing him, then I’d probably move on to the judge and his defense attorney. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/35 "2013-12-13T11:22:52Z")
I’m sure that there are lawyers lined up around the block offering their services to the next of kin of the victims. Suing the kid and his family into the next millennium seems to be the logical next step. After all, if they’re that rich, they’re worth suing. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/36 "2013-12-13T11:46:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Couch’s attorneys argued his parents were responsible for the teen’s actions that night because of the way he had been raised. Defense attorneys put a psychologist on the stand who testified Couch was a product of wealth and got whatever he wanted. Should not this argument mean that his parents should therefore be tried? At the very least, they have to be civilly responsible, right? ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/37 "2013-12-13T12:21:52Z")
> [@pool](#): > > Not to be overly dramatic but I can’t imagine being the guy whose wife and daughter were killed by this little bastard. I seriously would dedicate the rest of my existence to killing him, then I’d probably move on to the judge and his defense attorney. I’d start with the judges family she how she likes it. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/38 "2013-12-13T14:51:14Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Affluenza? Seriously? WTF? Unfortunately, it isn’t contagious. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/39 "2013-12-13T15:04:07Z")
So what would this mean in the future for this kid? Can an employer say ‘Nope not gonna hire you, you have affluenza?’ How would he show he no longer has it? (owning up to this shit and taking what he deserves I think would be the first step) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/40 "2013-12-13T16:05:39Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I’m sure that there are lawyers lined up around the block offering their services to the next of kin of the victims. Suing the kid and his family into the next millennium seems to be the logical next step. After all, if they’re that rich, they’re worth suing. This seems like the most realistically appropriate response. If it’s really an issue of “affluenza,” the response should be to remove the affluence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119.md?page=3)