In a video on MSNBC, I saw that Utah 7th District Juvenile Judge Scott Johansen ordered a mother to cut her 13 year old daughter's hair in retaliation for having 'assaulted another young girl by cutting some of her hair off'. His logic, as disgusting and flawed as it was, was not only that this punishment fit the crime but also it was meant to teach a 13-year old child about the consequences of her actions in a 'positive way'.

The other child's mother was heard in the background of a recording saying that the 'amount was not enough', so the judge ordered the mother to cut off more hair.

The US was founded on certain principles and rules of law. The founding fathers were adamant in ensuring that common decency was upheld in all judicial proceedings - for everyone. This judge not only inflicted a cruel and unusual punishment, but also may have inflicted more hurt and pain on this child for the future than any single incident could ever have.

All the facts in this case are not publicly available, but I believe the child admitted her guilt to the juvenile court. She was totally and most surely in the wrong for cutting off a 3-year old's hair. The judge sentenced the 13-year old to 30 days in detention and to 256 hours of community service. Rapists and burglars sometimes receive lighter sentences in our judicial system.

This should constiute cruel and unusual punishment and most certainly is not a legitimate assertion of 'the punishment fits the crime'. It is ABSOLUTELY INTOLERABLE AND APPALLING in civil society or anywhere else. Is our juvenile system governed by rules the rest of society is not? What's next on this judge's list of 'punishment'? Would he order a boy (or parent) to kick another boy in the testicles to retaliate for having kicked someone? That's assault, too!

Ghandi said that "An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind". Both mothers should be ashamed of themselves, one for her daughter's actions, the other for acting out of revenge. The real criminal in this situation is Juvenile Judge Scott Johansen; and he should be immediately removed from the bench without question or deliberation, and should be charged with professional and ethical misconduct.