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Stevens says he hasn't yet been convicted

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jujuman13

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I feel quite certain that among our many posters on these Blogs, we have more than 1 or 2 Lawyers or wanna be Lawyers.
So, my question is:
If a person is found guilty of any offense, is it true to say that they have been 'Convicted'?
Certainly the Federal Court believes so.
Quote
(A federal court jury on Monday convicted Stevens on seven counts of lying on Senate disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in gifts and renovations to his home from VECO Corp. founder Bill Allen.)

What do you think?

Link
Stevens says he hasn't yet been convicted
 
Under some interpretations of the law, until you're sentenced you're not a "convicted felon." See, TI v. Tha H8erz 140 F.3d 9, 10 (Goog. News 2008).
 
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What you are saying is that there are versions of Federal Law with regard to convictions?

Oh, OK, I get it.
The Law is one thing for any citizen but entirely different for any Politician.
Have I got it correct now?
 
jujuman13 said:
What you are saying is that there are versions of Federal Law with regard to convictions?

Oh, OK, I get it.
The Law is one thing for any citizen but entirely different for any Politician.
Have I got it correct now?
Click to expand...

No, it applies the same to everyone. 18 USC Sec. 921(a)(20):

What constitutes a conviction of such a crime shall be determined in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the proceedings were held.
Click to expand...

And according to the Alaskan atty general,

The state attorney general's office determined that while Stevens’ crimes fit the definition of “a felony involving moral turpitude,” a guilty verdict isn’t technically a “conviction” until he is sentenced.
Click to expand...

Alaska Sen. Stevens can vote despite felony - Capitol Hill
 
The ****er's been found guilty of 7 charges of corruption, so why haven't we already made that malfeasant piece of excrement go for a nice long walk out on the ice?
 
In law, the conviction is the verdict that results when a court of law find a defendant guilty of a crime. and the opposite would be an acquittal.

The sentencing is the final phase, so I guess you could argue there isn't a conviction until then. But will it change anything? No. Will he go to sentencing and the judge find him innocent because the moon is made of cheese? No. And no, the moon is not made of cheese.

He's just not at the point of accepting being convicted yet. He's hoping for an appeal, which he may get. Who knows? Most likely, Bush will pardon him, or something. But it's likely he will be sentenced first.
 
Technically Stevens hasn't been convicted yet. In the same way a man with his head in a noose is still technically alive.
 
He's trying to collect as much money as possible. If he isn't convicted, he doesn't have to step down and as such he continues to get money each day he is technically "working".

I don't agree with it, but I can see why he is doing it.
 
Jessica said:
In law, the conviction is the verdict that results when a court of law find a defendant guilty of a crime. and the opposite would be an acquittal.

The sentencing is the final phase, so I guess you could argue there isn't a conviction until then. But will it change anything? No. Will he go to sentencing and the judge find him innocent because the moon is made of cheese? No. And no, the moon is not made of cheese.

He's just not at the point of accepting being convicted yet. He's hoping for an appeal, which he may get. Who knows? Most likely, Bush will pardon him, or something. But it's likely he will be sentenced first.
Click to expand...

I think what RightInNYC is trying to get across is that there is technically no conviction until the appeals process has run its course, one way or the other. If Stevens beats the rap on appeal, then of course, he is innocent.
 
danarhea said:
I think what RightInNYC is trying to get across is that there is technically no conviction until the appeals process has run its course, one way or the other. If Stevens beats the rap on appeal, then of course, he is innocent.
Click to expand...

Not quite, he will be sentenced before he starts the appeals process. My impression is that the way it works is this

From arrest to verdict: You're simply "accused"
From guilty verdit to sentencing: You're in a state of limbo where you may or may not be considered convicted, but are still allowed to vote in some (most?) states.
From sentencing to the end of the appeals process: You're a convicted felon
If you win your appeal, you become innocent. If not, you're still a convicted felon.
 
Befuddled_Stoner said:
The ****er's been found guilty of 7 charges of corruption, so why haven't we already made that malfeasant piece of excrement go for a nice long walk out on the ice?
Click to expand...

Well, at least he has stepped down like all good (criminal) Republicans do when they have done something wrong (and it is made public).

Right? Didn't he step down?
 
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