OT: Judiciary Discretion ** 20/20 segment

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Butch. I could not agree more. I have had opportunity to see

first-hand just how unfair the system CAN be but I still have the right to vote

for/against the DA . . . and I still believe MOST of the time the system works.

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

-Helen

American By Birth ** MID-WESTERN By The Grace Of God ** Patriot By Choice ;-))

 

 

 

 

 

So .. here I come to defend the American judicial system .. as imperfect

as it is .. cause everybody needs at least one champion and to date, on

this list .. nobody has come out to defend the American system. ;-)

 

If what I have written here upsets someone .. then they might wanna

consider not buying my products. But that would be their loss .. not

mine. ;-)

 

BUT ... I highly recommend ALL of you Americans take the time to get out

and exercise a right you have that was paid for with the blood of those

before us .. get out and vote day after tomorrow. Exercise of that

right can bring far better results than we can get by peeing and moaning

on this list. ;-)

 

Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch http://www.AV-AT.com

 

American By Birth ** Suthran By The Grace Of God ** Patriot By Choice

 

..

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

It is my opinion (and my experience) that the American judicial system

is NOT perfect .. but its also NOT a joke .. and its NOT screwed up!

 

[Dave:] You write interestingly, Butch. Your experiences are very different

than mine. I’ve had a few brushes with the law...not because I’m a criminal

or addict, but because years ago I used to drink too much. So anything that

happened to me was my own fault, and I’m thankful I have left that all

behind. But I can’t agree with you that our system is not a mess.

 

Our US system demands an independent judiciary .. and we know that

because people are people .. thus, not infallible, there will be a judge

here or there who is gonna abuse that system .. but generally, that is

not the case.

 

[Dave:] I’d say that here or there you might find a judge that’s decent.

I’ve never been involved in a criminal trial, but I’ve sat in courtrooms and

watched defendant after defendant get saddled with life-destroying fines

over minor infractions. If the defendant can afford a lawyer, then there

will be a lot of familiarity and banter among the judge and them, and the

defendant generally gets off without anyone having to work much. Five years

ago I got a DUI that was totally bogus. I had a public defender, and if I

live another 500 years I will never forget that woman looking me in the eye

and saying, “It doesn’t matter if you’re guilty or not. You’re in the

system now, and everyone is convicted.” She was right. But she had an

obligation to try to put up a defense, and she didn’t bother. A few winks

and it was all over.

 

What is the weakest part of the US justice system? In my opinion, it is

the jury of peers ..

 

[Dave:] Now you’re scaring me. I’d say the weakness is not the jury, but

the definition of peers.

 

Can one person make a difference? Yes ..

but not as much difference as can a larger group.

 

[Dave:] Nor as much as a bucket of money. Here’s the real weakness in our

system. Money buys justice and poverty is a crapshoot. If you’re not

white, then the entire playing field is tilted against you. That’s just how

it works, and no amount of protest will change that, because it isn’t the

system that needs changing as much as peoples’ hearts – on both sides of the

bench.

 

So .. here I come to defend the American judicial system .. as imperfect

as it is .. cause everybody needs at least one champion and to date, on

this list .. nobody has come out to defend the American system. ;-)

 

[Dave:] I think our system is about the best anyone’s come up with, on

paper. The problem I see is class separation, and the fact that judges are

prejudiced against the defenseless. I have never met a lawyer I’d give a

dime for (and me ex is a paralegal, so I’ve met quite a few), and although

logic tells me there are good cops out there, I will always believe that a

good man with a gun and a badge is on a slippery slope to becoming a thug.

 

 

--

 

 

Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.28/518 - Release 11/4/2006

 

 

 

--

 

 

Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.28/518 - Release 11/4/2006

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi y'all,

 

I'm gonna top post on this one because I'm not going to address any

specific comments of any of the folks who wrote below .. or previously.

I am gonna give my opinion on the subject because it appears that there

is need for a different slant now since everyone seems to be supporting

one side of an issue that has become quite emotional. ;-)

 

Lemme kick off by saying that none of us should expect the so-called

investigative TV programs to report on things that are going well ..

they are like the news programs .. folks don't wanna know how well

things are going .. they wanna know how screwed up things are .. and

there is not a system in existence .. be it governmental, corporate,

religious or whatever .. that is not gonna have a negative side that can

be dug up if one digs long enough. Folks liked Mama Theresa .. she was

not a subject of investigation .. I could name quite a few other folks

who are in that category .. but you can bet your bippy that a good (or

bad?) investigative reporter could make them look like dawg crap if they

wanted to .. even if they were squeaky clean .. its a matter of spin.

 

It is my opinion (and my experience) that the American judicial system

is NOT perfect .. but its also NOT a joke .. and its NOT screwed up!

 

I was involved in the law enforcement business a lot of years .. and

with but few exceptions, I was on the side of the prosecution because it

was my duty to be so. I've also been (and still am) a victim that is

waiting for the system to give me justice .. its about credit card fraud

in a case that has been ongoing since April 2005 .. but its not in an

American court .. its in a Turkish court.

 

I have yet to find a system that is equal to the Wisdom of Solomon ..

and the reason is .. Solomon didn't have laws and codes and technical

issues and folks turning state's evidence (stool pigeons) in order to

get a lighter sentence. Solomon just made a decision and that was that

and those who didn't like it kept their mouth shut. ;-)

 

Our US system demands an independent judiciary .. and we know that

because people are people .. thus, not infallible, there will be a judge

here or there who is gonna abuse that system .. but generally, that is

not the case. And .. we will find judges rendering decisions that make

them want to throw up because their hands are tied due to this or that

technicality or some deal made between the prosecution and the defense.

 

And though these judges .. from county level up to (but not including)

the Supreme Court .. are independent .. their decisions are subject to

review and it would be naive to assume that the entire system is so damn

corrupt that such reviews do not occur! Like appeals .. and more!

 

As a commander in the military, I had total discretion when punishing my

soldiers under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice .. and there

were times when within the same year that I dispensed totally different

punishment to two different soldiers for exactly the same offense. Rare

it was that I was questioned because my chain of command wanted to avoid

even the appearance of Command Influence .. a crime in the military ..

but being a wise commander .. I always briefed my superior as to why I

took this or that action .. but I would NOT brief others .. it was NOT

their business to know all of the facts I had to consider when making my

final decision. In fact, some of those facts were not even pertinent to

the case I was dealing with .. they were pertinent to situations/crimes

that were not yet ready to be dealt with.

 

What is the weakest part of the US justice system? In my opinion, it is

the jury of peers .. rarely do they have the capability to properly

evaluate a case and make a decision. They are influenced by two actors

who are performing for them .. the best actor .. the one who has done

his/her homework well .. and has a charismatic approach that allows them

to reach out to the bored jury .. normally wins the case.

 

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/Simpson/satire_seuss.html#The%2\

0O.%20J.%20Simpson

 

And as we all know, different states have different laws .. and it has

long been the opinion of the system (at least the law enforcement system)

that folks deserve the amount of protection they demand. Just in the

last few weeks I have seen some extremes in adjudication for similar

offenses in different states .. one that comes to mind is the increased

number of female teachers who are being charged with child abuse for

having sexual relations with their students. A gal in Indiana last week

got 9 years for stripping and making sexual gestures in front of her

class .. and there were some others in the last few months who gave oral

sex to kids as young as TEN .. and had sex with kids as young as 14 ..

who got fired and got a slap on the wrist.

 

Had these cases been male teachers and female students .. we can bet out

last dollar that the outcome would have been different. Are we all that

much different than some of the Third World countries when it comes to

our views on the right and wrong of actions based on sex? I think not!

I think we just look at it in reverse.

 

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52172

 

But .. these are different jurisdictions .. different laws .. different

expectations (apparently?) of the citizens. If this is not correct ..

then the citizens deserve what they got if they sat on their asses and

allowed it to happen without protesting!

 

If we believe in States Rights .. which was the real reason for a war

that killed close to a million Americans .. then we can't legislate away

those rights. Citizens within a particular state can raise enough hell

even outside the electoral system to make changes .. and they can always

make their opinions known to elected officials .. we can even threaten

them. Jack .. you get your crap together and support this issue or I am

going to vote against you. Can one person make a difference? Yes ..

but not as much difference as can a larger group. There are certain

ethnic and religious groups in the USA who work the system well .. and

there are others who sit around on their asses wondering why they are

not given more attention.

 

I don't want to see elected officials challenging and second guessing

the judiciary .. elected officials are by nature corrupt and concerned

for self only. That is why our system has separation of powers. I do,

however, think various levels of the judiciary system should act on any

case that appears to be a miscarriage of justice. Meaning .. a case

where a judge was totally out of line. But .. as long as this or that

state has a law on the books that gives the judge the discretion of

giving a slap on the wrist or 10 years in the poky .. there will be

cases where it is not going to be considered as a wrongful decision.

 

Many of the judicial systems in the world rate a prosecutor above a

judge. If a judge finds a defendant INNOCENT .. the prosecutor can

appeal the decision and have the defendant tried again .. and there are

systems where the prosecutor keeps on doing this for years and years

until they get a conviction. There are other systems where a secular

judicial system decision is subject to review and can be overturned ..

by a religious system .. and I can go on and on with the various off

the wall systems I have personal experience with.

 

So .. here I come to defend the American judicial system .. as imperfect

as it is .. cause everybody needs at least one champion and to date, on

this list .. nobody has come out to defend the American system. ;-)

 

If what I have written here upsets someone .. then they might wanna

consider not buying my products. But that would be their loss .. not

mine. ;-)

 

BUT ... I highly recommend ALL of you Americans take the time to get out

and exercise a right you have that was paid for with the blood of those

before us .. get out and vote day after tomorrow. Exercise of that

right can bring far better results than we can get by peeing and moaning

on this list. ;-)

 

Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch http://www.AV-AT.com

 

American By Birth ** Suthran By The Grace Of God ** Patriot By Choice

 

 

>>>Hi Everyone,

>>>Did anyone else watch the two hour 20/20 segment on Privilege in

>>>America? I missed the first hour but the second hour with the

>>>segment on Judge Keith Dean from Waco Texas was appalling. The

>>>segment was about how someone with money can get away with murder

>>>and someone without privilege will be handed a severe sentence,

>>>life in prison to be exact, for committing a lesser crime by the

>>>same judge. Liz

>>

>>The really sad part is that judges are elected.

>

> What makes me so mad is that the man that actually murdered someone,

> shot a male prostitute ( A disposable person I guess) in the back,

> in his yard , after they got into a scuffle about payment, only got

> ten years probation for the murder then violated his probation by

> getting caught with a large amount of cocaine in his possession. He

> got off because he has friends in the government. Maybe someone will

> start a website that brings these unfair judgements to light. These

> people need to be exposed. I hope the reporter that uncovered the

> story will. I am so sick of these judges getting paid off. The legal

> system is a joke in this country.

>

> Thanks for listening to me rant,

> Liz

[Guest guest]

Hey Butch,

Well said and thanks for saying it.

I look forward to having a cold one (few) with you when your back in

the states.

John

 

 

, Butch Owen <butchbsi

wrote:

>

> Hi y'all,

>

> I'm gonna top post on this one because I'm not going to address any

> specific comments of any of the folks who wrote below .. or

previously.

> I am gonna give my opinion on the subject because it appears that

there

> is need for a different slant now since everyone seems to be

supporting

> one side of an issue that has become quite emotional. ;-)

>

> Lemme kick off by saying that none of us should expect the so-

called

> investigative TV programs to report on things that are going

well ..

> they are like the news programs .. folks don't wanna know how well

> things are going .. they wanna know how screwed up things are ..

and

> there is not a system in existence .. be it governmental,

corporate,

> religious or whatever .. that is not gonna have a negative side

that can

> be dug up if one digs long enough. Folks liked Mama Theresa ..

she was

> not a subject of investigation .. I could name quite a few other

folks

> who are in that category .. but you can bet your bippy that a good

(or

> bad?) investigative reporter could make them look like dawg crap

if they

> wanted to .. even if they were squeaky clean .. its a matter of

spin.

>

> It is my opinion (and my experience) that the American judicial

system

> is NOT perfect .. but its also NOT a joke .. and its NOT screwed

up!

>

> I was involved in the law enforcement business a lot of years ..

and

> with but few exceptions, I was on the side of the prosecution

because it

> was my duty to be so. I've also been (and still am) a victim that

is

> waiting for the system to give me justice .. its about credit card

fraud

> in a case that has been ongoing since April 2005 .. but its not in

an

> American court .. its in a Turkish court.

>

> I have yet to find a system that is equal to the Wisdom of

Solomon ..

> and the reason is .. Solomon didn't have laws and codes and

technical

> issues and folks turning state's evidence (stool pigeons) in order

to

> get a lighter sentence. Solomon just made a decision and that was

that

> and those who didn't like it kept their mouth shut. ;-)

>

> Our US system demands an independent judiciary .. and we know that

> because people are people .. thus, not infallible, there will be a

judge

> here or there who is gonna abuse that system .. but generally,

that is

> not the case. And .. we will find judges rendering decisions that

make

> them want to throw up because their hands are tied due to this or

that

> technicality or some deal made between the prosecution and the

defense.

>

> And though these judges .. from county level up to (but not

including)

> the Supreme Court .. are independent .. their decisions are

subject to

> review and it would be naive to assume that the entire system is

so damn

> corrupt that such reviews do not occur! Like appeals .. and more!

>

> As a commander in the military, I had total discretion when

punishing my

> soldiers under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice .. and

there

> were times when within the same year that I dispensed totally

different

> punishment to two different soldiers for exactly the same

offense. Rare

> it was that I was questioned because my chain of command wanted to

avoid

> even the appearance of Command Influence .. a crime in the

military ..

> but being a wise commander .. I always briefed my superior as to

why I

> took this or that action .. but I would NOT brief others .. it was

NOT

> their business to know all of the facts I had to consider when

making my

> final decision. In fact, some of those facts were not even

pertinent to

> the case I was dealing with .. they were pertinent to

situations/crimes

> that were not yet ready to be dealt with.

>

> What is the weakest part of the US justice system? In my opinion,

it is

> the jury of peers .. rarely do they have the capability to properly

> evaluate a case and make a decision. They are influenced by two

actors

> who are performing for them .. the best actor .. the one who has

done

> his/her homework well .. and has a charismatic approach that

allows them

> to reach out to the bored jury .. normally wins the case.

>

>

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/Simpson/satire_seuss

..html#The%20O.%20J.%20Simpson

>

> And as we all know, different states have different laws .. and it

has

> long been the opinion of the system (at least the law enforcement

system)

> that folks deserve the amount of protection they demand. Just in

the

> last few weeks I have seen some extremes in adjudication for

similar

> offenses in different states .. one that comes to mind is the

increased

> number of female teachers who are being charged with child abuse

for

> having sexual relations with their students. A gal in Indiana

last week

> got 9 years for stripping and making sexual gestures in front of

her

> class .. and there were some others in the last few months who

gave oral

> sex to kids as young as TEN .. and had sex with kids as young as

14 ..

> who got fired and got a slap on the wrist.

>

> Had these cases been male teachers and female students .. we can

bet out

> last dollar that the outcome would have been different. Are we

all that

> much different than some of the Third World countries when it

comes to

> our views on the right and wrong of actions based on sex? I think

not!

> I think we just look at it in reverse.

>

> http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52172

>

> But .. these are different jurisdictions .. different laws ..

different

> expectations (apparently?) of the citizens. If this is not

correct ..

> then the citizens deserve what they got if they sat on their asses

and

> allowed it to happen without protesting!

>

> If we believe in States Rights .. which was the real reason for a

war

> that killed close to a million Americans .. then we can't

legislate away

> those rights. Citizens within a particular state can raise enough

hell

> even outside the electoral system to make changes .. and they can

always

> make their opinions known to elected officials .. we can even

threaten

> them. Jack .. you get your crap together and support this issue

or I am

> going to vote against you. Can one person make a difference?

Yes ..

> but not as much difference as can a larger group. There are

certain

> ethnic and religious groups in the USA who work the system well ..

and

> there are others who sit around on their asses wondering why they

are

> not given more attention.

>

> I don't want to see elected officials challenging and second

guessing

> the judiciary .. elected officials are by nature corrupt and

concerned

> for self only. That is why our system has separation of powers.

I do,

> however, think various levels of the judiciary system should act

on any

> case that appears to be a miscarriage of justice. Meaning .. a

case

> where a judge was totally out of line. But .. as long as this or

that

> state has a law on the books that gives the judge the discretion of

> giving a slap on the wrist or 10 years in the poky .. there will be

> cases where it is not going to be considered as a wrongful

decision.

>

> Many of the judicial systems in the world rate a prosecutor above a

> judge. If a judge finds a defendant INNOCENT .. the prosecutor can

> appeal the decision and have the defendant tried again .. and

there are

> systems where the prosecutor keeps on doing this for years and

years

> until they get a conviction. There are other systems where a

secular

> judicial system decision is subject to review and can be

overturned ..

> by a religious system .. and I can go on and on with the various

off

> the wall systems I have personal experience with.

>

> So .. here I come to defend the American judicial system .. as

imperfect

> as it is .. cause everybody needs at least one champion and to

date, on

> this list .. nobody has come out to defend the American system. ;-

)

>

> If what I have written here upsets someone .. then they might wanna

> consider not buying my products. But that would be their loss ..

not

> mine. ;-)

>

> BUT ... I highly recommend ALL of you Americans take the time to

get out

> and exercise a right you have that was paid for with the blood of

those

> before us .. get out and vote day after tomorrow. Exercise of that

> right can bring far better results than we can get by peeing and

moaning

> on this list. ;-)

>

> Y'all keep smiling. :-) Butch http://www.AV-AT.com

>

> American By Birth ** Suthran By The Grace Of God ** Patriot By

Choice

>

>

> >>>Hi Everyone,

> >>>Did anyone else watch the two hour 20/20 segment on Privilege in

> >>>America? I missed the first hour but the second hour with the

> >>>segment on Judge Keith Dean from Waco Texas was appalling. The

> >>>segment was about how someone with money can get away with

murder

> >>>and someone without privilege will be handed a severe sentence,

> >>>life in prison to be exact, for committing a lesser crime by the

> >>>same judge. Liz

> >>

> >>The really sad part is that judges are elected.

> >

> > What makes me so mad is that the man that actually murdered

someone,

> > shot a male prostitute ( A disposable person I guess) in the

back,

> > in his yard , after they got into a scuffle about payment, only

got

> > ten years probation for the murder then violated his probation by

> > getting caught with a large amount of cocaine in his possession.

He

> > got off because he has friends in the government. Maybe someone

will

> > start a website that brings these unfair judgements to light.

These

> > people need to be exposed. I hope the reporter that uncovered

the

> > story will. I am so sick of these judges getting paid off. The

legal

> > system is a joke in this country.

> >

> > Thanks for listening to me rant,

> > Liz

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Butch,

Couldn't agree more. I get very upset when I see the public screaming

because they consider someone has been given a " light "

sentence. But in most cases the public doesn't have access to all the

facts and the judiciary make their decision based on facts, and the

relevant laws. I for one don't want to be a judge. I think it would be

very difficult and no matter what you decide, one party will not be

happy. There have been two cases here recently where a person has

been found guilty of murder and jailed for a considerable time (I

think one was about 14 years and the other 10), only to

be found innocent on appeal. But that is not the fault of the

judiciary - a decision was made on the facts available. It is just

the facts were not quite as they appeared. I'm just thankful that we

don't have the death penalty here - and no (for anyone that doesn't

agree) I don't want to get into a debate on that.

 

Virginia

West Aussie -where voting is compulsory

 

 

Hi y'all,

 

I don't want to see elected officials challenging and second guessing

the judiciary .. elected officials are by nature corrupt and concerned

for self only. That is why our system has separation of powers.

[Guest guest]

, Virginia <artemesia wrote:

>

> Hi Butch,

> Couldn't agree more. I get very upset when I see the public screaming

> because they consider someone has been given a " light "

> sentence. But in most cases the public doesn't have access to all the

> facts and the judiciary make their decision based on facts,

 

Hi Everyone,

I am usually am quite conservative in my views and believe that most

people who are in jail belong there do their own bad decisions and I

was not trying to scream publicly, I just thought the story was sad.

Both men were originally given ten years probation both violated the

probation, one was caught with a couple of ounces of cocaine and

failed his drug test, the other failed his drug test by smoking a

joint. One got life in prison the other got nothing. The one who got

nothing also has a sister married to a politician. Those were the

facts. Sorry to sound like a whiner.

Thanks Liz

[Guest guest]

Hi Liz - I wasn't referring to you. I'm in Western Australia and I

didn't see your original post. What happens here is the Current

Affairs programs (on commercial stations) give a very one-sided view and then

ask the public

for their opinions. Of course everyone says " the sentence is too

lenient " etc etc. Sorry didn't mean to cause any offense.

 

Virginia

West Aussie

 

 

, Virginia <artemesia wrote:

 

Hi Everyone,

I am usually am quite conservative in my views and believe that most

people who are in jail belong there do their own bad decisions and I

was not trying to scream publicly, I just thought the story was sad.

Both men were originally given ten years probation both violated the

[Guest guest]

, Virginia <artemesia wrote:

>

> Hi Butch,

> Couldn't agree more. I get very upset when I see the public screaming

> because they consider someone has been given a " light "

> sentence. But in most cases the public doesn't have access to all the

> facts and the judiciary make their decision based on facts, and the

> relevant laws.

--------

Once you have served on a jury, you have a much clearer idea of how it

works. The jury doesn't get to hear or see everything, only what is

considered admissable evidence. When I served on a jury it was a real

eye opener. First of all, people go to great lengths to get out of

serving on a jury. I was fortunate in that my company paid my salary

while I was on jury duty, that is not always the case so you get

jurers who just want to get the whole thing over so they can get back

to work. There were quite a few battles during deliberation between

those of us who really wanted to evaluate seriously, and the 3 or 4

folks who just wanted to get out of there. A problem when you need a

clear majority.

 

Before you go into deliberation you are given the exat law by the

judge and the questions you need to decide. And there are those that

will say to hell with the law, that person is guilty, if not for this

crime for some other. That was another source of battle in the jury

room.

 

So the jury of peers is a weak link, although when I served there

where mostly people that wanted to do the right thing, but it was

rough going. There were definately folks on that jury that should not

have been there. So the weak point is that if the judge and lawyers

decide you are going to serve, that's it unless you come up with a

darn good excuse. So it can be a financial hardship. Under those

circumstances, the quality of the jurers is a crapshoot. After the

jury I was on delivered the verdict, we learned about previous cases

agagainst the defendent and we pretty much agreed that we would have

decided differently if we'd heard some of that stuff. So it's not

perfect, but it's better than a lot of others. But money does play too

much of a role in justice.

Joanne

[Guest guest]

, " bluefleuri " <bluefleuri

wrote:

> I am usually am quite conservative in my views and believe that most

> people who are in jail belong there do their own bad decisions and I

> was not trying to scream publicly, I just thought the story was sad.

> Both men were originally given ten years probation both violated the

> probation, one was caught with a couple of ounces of cocaine and

> failed his drug test, the other failed his drug test by smoking a

> joint. One got life in prison the other got nothing. The one who got

> nothing also has a sister married to a politician. Those were the

> facts. Sorry to sound like a whiner.

> Thanks Liz

>

--------------

You didn't sound like a whiner. The story is sad and it is a shame

that people were going to the polls to vote for that judge with no

real knowledge of his record. Same goes for a lot of elections. It all

comes down to an American public that needs to get off their duff and

vote, and also to find out who and what they are voting for. If they

did that we wouldn't be seeing stories like that, or stories about

alcoholic congressmen chasing young boys, or girls, or hiding money in

their freezer.

 

The sleezy commercials, flashy election signs, mud-slinging and

distortion have too much influence on people. Not many take the time

to find out what is going on, or how the system works. Or how claims

stating " so and so voted not to support our troops " may only mean that

they voted against an unfunded bill, which was fixed and later passed

with support. We're still lucky if 50% of eligible voters bother to

get to the polls at all, people get the government they deserve.

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Under those

circumstances, the quality of the jurers is a crapshoot.

 

[Dave:] You bet it is. I don’t think human justice will ever be perfect,

but we are capable of bringing it a lot closer than it is now. Has anyone

seen the movie “Runaway Jury” with Gene Hackman? I have no idea how endemic

jury-tampering is, as presented in this film, but it does give real insights

into the jury-selection process. A big part of the problem with “justice”

is that it’s only a secondary consideration for each side. Their first

concern is winning. It’s a contest, one where ruthless attorneys are

willing to play dirty in order to win. And the poor defendant, and society,

may or may not benefit from the process; too few officials care about that.

 

 

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Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.28/518 - Release 11/4/2006

 

 

 

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Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.13.28/518 - Release 11/4/2006