“We’re not Agents of the Bible, We’re Agents of the Law”

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Chief Justice Michael Kruse said the court doesn’t have a hard job to do in deciding sentences; it only becomes hard when the decision making is cluttered with emotions.

Kruse was speaking at the sentencing this morning of Michael Schuster charged with manslaughter for the stabbing death of his cousin in August,

Defense attorney Sharron Rancourt had commented that the court had a hard job to do in deciding a sentence for the young defendant.

The Chief Justice said the court doesn’t have a hard job; it’s only hard when emotions are involved.

Regarding the case at hand, he said a young man and his mother have asked the court for forgiveness.

He said if the court considered their pleas, it also has to consider the mother of the victim.

He said the mother’s plea for forgiveness is asking the court to internalize her emotions, and if the court exercises forgivesss all the time no one would go to jail.

Speaking directly to the defendant, Kruse said he can seek forgiveness from the black book, pointing to the Bible used for swearing in witnesses.

The Chief Justice picked up a copy of the American Samoa Code Annotated and said “this is our Bible.” .

He continued that before the court was a big family with high expectations. He said the judges are not agents of the Bible they are agents of the law and their duty under the law is to protect society.

Kruse said he felt it was important for the court to be upfront with its role in sentencing so the public understands.

Schuster, who pled guilty to manslaughter, was sentenced to 28 months in prison and fined $5,000. He also has to undergo and successfully complete anger management counseling which he has to pay for.

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