South Carolina Judge Orders a Woman to Read and Summarize the Old Testament as Part of Her DUI Sentencing

A South Carolina judge made a controversial ruling that send some critics blazing. The judge gave Cassandra Tolley, who was in his court on a DUI charge, a rather strange sentencing.

Judge Michael Nettles told Tolley that part of her sentencing involves reading and summarizing the Old Testament of Job – you know - where Job lost all his possessions, his ten kids were killed; however, Job never renounced his religion. In return he was rewarded with twice as many possessions, and twice as many kids!

Trolley, 28-years-old, decided to drive on the wrong side of traffic heavily intoxicated. Her blood level was 0.33 (four times the legal limit). Off course she didn’t go too far, before crashing her car in another car, where two innocent guys barely survived, and when we say ‘barely’ we mean it. One guy is on his sixth surgery and might get his left leg amputated, and the other guy has so many screws in his spine that can’t sit down longer than an hour!

So why would the judge give Tolley such an unusual sentence? According to Kenneth Gaines, a University of South Carolina professor of law specializing in civil and criminal litigation ‘Under normal circumstances, the judge wouldn’t have the authority to do that,’ he continues ‘You can’t just arbitrarily add anything you want to a sentence,’ as reported by the Herald.

However, if the defendant doesn’t contest to the ruling then it’s OK.

Tolley’s attorney told local media that her client has begun working on her assignment (sentencing) and declined to answer any other questions.

Do you think the judge was fair in his ruling?