Trial Judge Scolded for Telling Defendant Federal Court ‘Sucks’

A trial judge who told a defendant during plea negotiations that the federal judicial system “sucks” and he would likely get a lighter sentence if he went to trial had the sentencing portion of the trial taken away from it by the Eighth Circuit Thursday.

Seneca Harrison was likely persuaded to reject the plea deal by the comments and was prejudiced when he received a longer sentence, the opinion by Judge David R. Stras said.

Harrison was charged as a felon in possession of a firearm. He didn’t want to go to trial, and his attorney and the prosecutor agreed ...