White supremacist Matthew Hale was sentenced to 40 years in prison today by a U.S. District Court Judge in Chicago for trying to have another federal judge killed.

That judge, Joan Humphrey Lefkow, had ruled against Hale in a trademark case based upon his use of the name 'The World Church of the Creator' for his organization. Hale was later convicted of trying to hire an informant to kill Lefkow.

Later, Lefkow's husband and mother were murdered by a man with no connection to Hale.

Prosecutors argued that Hale should receive the maximum sentence and that his actions were the equivalent of an act of terrorism.

The sentencing judge, James Moody, felt that Hale proved himself to be extremely dangerous. 'Mr. Hale is not concerned about taking someone's life, but rather how to do it without getting caught,' Judge James Moody said as he sentenced Hale. 'I consider Mr. Hale to be extremely dangerous and the offense for which he was convicted to be extremely egregious.'

Hale, who openly preaches racial 'holy war,' made a rambling two hour speech at his sentencing hearing which invoked the 'Star Spangled Banner' and essentially claimed he was the victim in this case.

'Before you does stand a man who not only is innocent, not only is demonstrably innocent, but who refused to join a plot against Judge Lefkow's life,' Hale said. He also compared the FBI to the Gestapo in his long, rambling speech. He went on to discuss the eventual murder of Judge Lefkow's family. 'This horrible lie may have had some effect on this scoundrel and what happened to her family.'

Hale will now spend the next 40 years of his life in the federal prison system. He will be 73 when he is released if he serves the entire 40 years.