I'm replying to every other comment it seems but I'm serious about this topic and I have personal experiences on both sides of the law. I've been summoned for jury duty twice, pled guilty or no contest to four crimes. I've also given victim testimony in court.

One time I barely got out of jury duty, good for me because my workplace would have been run by idiots if I were gone and great for my bosses because the place would have been run by idiots if I were gone.

The other time is the reason I responded. I sat in a room full of regular ass white people and one loudmouth that couldn't shut the fuck up. We sat in that room and listened to the idiot say untrue shit about many things. I really only remember him claiming "I don't give a damn" in Gone With the Wind was the first time anyone said a no no word on camera. What a jackass.

So after sitting there, backs to the door, the pigs and lawyer pig come in. They say we got him, we just brought him by and had him look in the window and said these are the people who are going to convict you if you don't take the deal.

Fucking disgusting.

In this particular case, i’d take my chances with the jury. Especially since the feds asking for the death penalty is huge overreach and New York isn’t a state known for lots of jurors in favor of the death penalty. It’s actually banned for state crimes.

EDIT: also, if he is somehow convicted of the worst crimes, his ability to appeal on the basis of cruel and unusual charging is very good. The terrorism charge alone is a massive overreach that I can’t think of ever being used when a civilian kills another civilian. And new york has fairly liberal judges. A plea deal is a huge mistake in this case. Unless the deal is a year in prison and 6 months probation. Which it won’t be. It’ll be we’ll drop the death penality charge and instead you get life.