Edward Cashman

Judge Edward J. Cashman, born in 1943, is a former state district court judge in the State of Vermont. Judge Cashman, a Vietnam veteran and Catholic of Irish descent (Cashman 1997), was appointed to the bench in 1982 by Republican Governor Richard A. Snelling (Graff 2006). "Cashman worked for the attorney general's office, the Chittenden County clerk, served on the state Public Service Board and worked in private practice before becoming state's attorney in Grand Isle County in 1978." (Graff 2006). In September 2006, Judge Cashman announced his pending retirement upon completion of his term in March 2007. (Gram 2006). Judge Cashman did retain his part-time employment with Johnson State College (JSC 2008a), teaching a course on constitutional law.(JSC 2008b, p. 15) In addition, Judge Cashman is an adjunct professor at Champlain College (CC 2012a) in Burlington, VT, where he teaches two criminal law courses. (CC 2012b)

Judge Cashman was criticized in January 2006 for suspending all but 60-days of a 10-years-to-life sentence to Mark Hulett, who pleaded guilty to child molestation. The victim, a girl who was six years old at the time the assaults began, was repeatedly molested for four years. Her parents were friends with Hulett, a frequent houseguest. Hulett often shared a bed with the victim. The sentence would have been re-enforced if Hulett did not successfully complete treatment.(Ring 2006)

The State of Vermont would not provide sex offender treatment while he was in prison because they considered him as a low risk re-offender.

WCAX news opened the story on January 4: "There was outrage today when a Vermont judge handed out a 60-day jail sentence to a child rapist. The judge said he no longer believes in punishment and is more concerned about rehabilitation. Brian Joyce was at the sentencing hearing. He's live in the newsroom with more. Kristin, Prosecutors argued that confessed child-rapist Mark Hulett deserved at least eight years behind bars for repeatedly raping a little girl countless times starting when she was seven. But Judge Edward Cashman disagreed -- saying he has learned that punishment just does not work" (WCAX 2006).

Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly kept the issue on the national stage on his television show and in his column (O'Reilly 2006). He accused national and regional media of ignoring the story (O'Reilly 2006). The case is also discussed in O'Reilly's book Culture Warrior.

The state Department of Corrections then offered to treat Hulett in prison, and Judge Cashman changed his sentence to 3–10 years.

Mark Hulett was released from prison on the morning of January 26, 2011. Hulett will remain under electronic monitoring by a GPS-tracking bracelet until June 2012 and have his computer usage tracked by the Department of Corrections. (Thurston 2011). Hulett will be required to be registered with the state as a sex offender. (WCAX 2006).