June 16, 2006

Is a fashion-and-makeup workshop a ridiculous proposal for community service?

The judge in Boy George's case thought so.
His lawyer [Louis Freeman] said O'Dowd [AKA Boy George] hoped to do something more worthwhile than sweeping streets and sidewalks.

"There's nothing wrong with that if that's part of his punishment, but it will turn into a media circus, and the press will be following him every day," Freeman said.

The judge said he understood the objection to street cleaning: "It's humiliation." However, he said, O'Dowd "got out from under a felony, and he took a (misdemeanor) deal that had an element of humiliation..."
A celebrity shouldn't get special treatment, but the lawyer -- naturally -- is going to argue that to be treated the same is to be treated differently. There's more humiliation. It's a media circus.

7 comments:

Jennifer said...

I don't know, but a fashion-and-makeup workshop given by Boy George is a ridiculous proposal.

Ann Althouse said...

Still, I'd love to be a recipient of that service. I love the guy, but I have to stick up for all the criminals who have no one to love them. It must be fair.

Jennifer said...

But, is there supposed to be a punitive element to the community service? Or is the whole point of the service a type of restitution to the community?

If its the former, then I agree that his proposals aren't fair.

If its the latter, then Dave has a point.

Gordon Freece said...

Media circus? Would they bother?

chuck b. said...

Since when does Boy George not want a media circus?

Unknown said...

Why should he be humiliated. He didn't do anything wrong, except use drugs as far as I know.

The laws against drug use are assinine.

Doug Sundseth said...

When he made the choice to enter a very public profession, he implicitly accepted ("fought for" might be better phrasing) that his entire life would be watched. Now that there's a part that he would prefer not be seen, he wants to change the deal.

Sorry, George.