https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=505&jdgUSID=12716

It would be a shame if publicly known Todd Lang was reported over and over again for his bias.

https://www.azcourts.gov/azcjc <<<<<<

(The form is a pain)

The estate of Ronnie James Dio and Wendy Dio have entered the chat.

Wow, this is super distasteful and manipulative.

Jessica Gattuso, the victim’s right attorney that worked with Pelkey’s family, told 404 Media that Arizona’s laws made the AI testimony possible. “We have a victim’s bill of rights,” she said. “[Victims] have the discretion to pick what format they’d like to give the statement. So I didn’t see any issues with the AI and there was no objection. I don’t believe anyone thought there was an issue with it.”

Gattuso said she understood the concerns, but felt that Pelkey’s AI avatar was handled deftly. “Stacey was up front and the video itself…said it was AI generated. We were very careful to make sure it was clear that these were the words that the family believed Christopher would have to say,” she said. “At no point did anyone try to pass it off as Chris’ own words.”

The prosecution against Horcasitas was only seeking nine years for the killing. The maximum was 10 and a half years. Stacey had asked the judge for the full sentence during her own impact statement. The judge granted her request, something Stacey credits—in part—to the AI video.

From a different article quoting a former judge in the court:

"There are going to be critics, but they picked the right forum to do it. In a trial with a jury you couldn't do it, but with sentencing, everything is open, hearsay is admissible, both sides can get up and express what they want to do," McDonald said.

"The power of it was that the judge had to see the gentleness, the kindness, the feeling of sincerity and having his sister say, 'Well we don't agree with it, this is what he would've wanted the court to know'," he said.

I don't like it, and it feels dirty to me, but since the law allows them to express basically whatever they want in whatever format they want during this phase, it doesn't seem harmful in this case, just gross.

I actually think it's a little more gross that the family was able to be that forthright and say that the victim would not want what they were asking for, and still ask for it.

If I were the defense and scummy, I'd reply with an equally disturbing AI avatar of the victim saying that he actually killed himself and that the road rage guy was innocent.

I mean, seems fair.

I thought this was an onion...

This is a clown show and the judge who let this travesty happen is an idiot.

I feel the defense should have insisted on having their own ai of jesus talk about forgiveness.

"Your honor, although the prosecution has indeed depicted my client as the pathetic soy virgin in exhibit A, meme 4, please watch this 7 episode TV drama mini series that the prosecution wrote and produced for this very case before making your judgement."

This will end up causing the murderer to get out on appeal, I guarantee it.

Fuck NO!!

This is some really stupid bullshit... Clearly the sister is grieving, but they never should have allowed this to play in court. What a joke.

Pretty fucked.

This is precedent now. Wheeeeeeeee common law system.