Denver Post columnist Al Lewis sent me this note from the courtroom of Federal Judge Edward Nottingham, who has sentenced Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio to six years in federal prison for insider trading:
"There's always going to be a crisis of confidence between Americans and their corporate institutions. It goes with the business cycle. This judge simply wants to make the point that there is not one set of rules for the rich and another for everyone else."
In an item posted to his Denver Post blog literally minutes after the sentence was handed down, Al wrote this about Judge Nottingham:
He also talked about the need to provide adequate deterrence the need to promote respect for the law and the need to provide a just sentence. He also read from “A Man for All Seasons.”
“If it is perceived there is one law for the rich and one law for everybody else, the law will ultimately fall in disrespect,” Nottingham said.
“The law does not care that you are wealthy, or were wealthy. The law does not care about your station in life.”
FOOTNOTES
For those of you who skipped high school lit, A Man for All Seasons is a classic play about Sir Thomas More, the English Lord chancellor who refused to compromise and was executed by Henry VIII.
The 1966 movie won seven Academy Awards including best picture and best actor.
Also, read the profile on Judge Nottingham from the Rocky Mountain News: No-nonsense judge expected to keep Nacchio trial on track. Then send him a note thanking him for his public service.
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