Xavier Is a State Judge Who Is Presiding Over a Case

question 10

Multiple Choice

Xavier is a state judge who is presiding over a case of homicide. During the hearing, the defense attorney proved that mitigating circumstances led to the occurrence of the crime. According to state sentencing guidelines, the defendant should receive three to five years in prison. Xavier, however, sentences the defendant to two years in prison. Which of the following allows the judge to differ from the sentencing guidelines of the state?

• A) The halo effect
• B) The truth-in-sentencing laws
• C) Aggravating circumstances
• D) Judicial departure

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Definitions:

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th president of the United States (1861-1865) who led the country during the Civil War, preserved the Union, and issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which began the process of freedom for America's slaves.

John Brown

A white American abolitionist who believed in and advocated for armed insurrection as the only way to overthrow the institution of slavery in the United States.

Abolition

Abolition refers to the movement to end the practice of slavery, marked by campaigns, rebellions, and legislative actions leading to the emancipation of enslaved individuals, particularly prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Political Party Affiliation

The association of an individual with a particular political party, often determining voting preferences and political actions.