Madalyn Murray O’Hair continues, albeit indirectly, to be in the news. This time, it concerns one of her murderers, whose sentence has been reduced from life in prison to … 50-years.
His attorneys asked the judge to consider his “exemplary” conduct as a inmate over the last two decades, his age and health problems. They also argued the government was asking the judge to “second guess” the jury’s original verdict for Karr.
“The government decided to go back to the well,” said defense attorney Christie Williams.
U.S. Attorney Matt Harding, in turn, argued for the maximum sentence allowable under the law: 20 years for conspiracy to commit extortion, plus 20 years for interstate travel to commit robbery and a combined 115 months for his two other convictions in relation to this case.
The court resentenced Karr to the maximum time available under the prevailing guidelines.
I created a Google news search for O’Hair, and no more than a couple of days go by without returning a hit — usually some editorial ranting about the impermissibility of teacher-led prayer, but occasionally some piece, like this one, concerning ongoing consequences of her life and activism. She led a consequential life, and she remains a vital figure.