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Reload this Page Dallas man freed by DNA testing after 27 years

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Discuss Civil Liberties and Civil rights here. Also discuss discrimination against minority groups as well, and ways to solve these issues.

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Old 06-05-2008, 12:49 AM
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Originally Posted by xjoe3x View Post
If you want a justice system, which I do, you must except that things like this will happen. It is a pity, but oh well. It does not mean imprisonment is wrong, just that we are not perfect. Same goes for the death penalty, but that is a different thread. One that has been done many times.
So you are willing to let innocent people die for vengeance?
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Old 06-05-2008, 05:39 AM
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I have to say that I am basically in favor of the death penalty, despite stories like this one.

What I'm not so keen on, is the jury system. If my life and freedom is on the line, I want professionals well versed in the law deciding things, not twelve yokels, with nothing better to do, who get dazzled and confused by glib lawyers, and can't even ask questions. Look at the doofuses serving on the OJ trial.

DNA test them all, I say, absolutely. But why bother having rules if society isn't willing to enforce them consistently?
OJ was acquitted. Better a dodgy acquittal than a dodgy conviction, especially when the death penalty is at the end of it. The jury is a means of ensuring that the state doesn't get its judges to convict those it wants convicted. I'd always take a jury trial over trial before judge alone (an option in my jurisdiction). Juries can smell it when there's a fit-up by the prosecution. They know it could be any one of them standing in the dock.
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Old 06-05-2008, 06:07 AM
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Originally Posted by malrenalds View Post
So you are willing to let innocent people die for vengeance?
Yes, just as I am willing to see them fined and imprisoned.
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Old 06-05-2008, 10:38 AM
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OJ was acquitted. Better a dodgy acquittal than a dodgy conviction, especially when the death penalty is at the end of it. The jury is a means of ensuring that the state doesn't get its judges to convict those it wants convicted. I'd always take a jury trial over trial before judge alone (an option in my jurisdiction). Juries can smell it when there's a fit-up by the prosecution. They know it could be any one of them standing in the dock.
I admire your faith.
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Old 06-05-2008, 04:38 PM
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I admire your faith.
It's not blind faith, it's informed by experience. I have a realistic view of the criminal justice system.
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Old 06-05-2008, 05:14 PM
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I take the judge over the jury, because the jury are more likely to be swayed by emotional nonsense.
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Old 06-05-2008, 07:23 PM
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It's not blind faith, it's informed by experience. I have a realistic view of the criminal justice system.
Ehh, realism's overrated.

No, it's just that I've been in those jury rooms, and have been absolutely horrified. Trial by jury is a good theory, but I'm sorry, I want professionals who understand that trials aren't generally like what they see on Matlock reruns.
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Old 06-05-2008, 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Oregon Elephant View Post
I take the judge over the jury, because the jury are more likely to be swayed by emotional nonsense.
The judge is also more likely to be swayed by his years of seeing criminals.

The jury at least doesn't have years of seeing crime all day long.
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Old 07-06-2008, 06:34 AM
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How do you apologize to someone after taking 27 years of his life away?
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Old 07-08-2008, 07:01 PM
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How do you apologize to someone after taking 27 years of his life away?
You can't.

Again, this is why I distrust juries. They place a lot of weight on testimonials rather than actual evidence. (This is why New Age quackery has been so resurgent!)

They put him away for 27 years, based essentally on unfounded say-so. So, two people point the finger and he's done? Were any adults present in the courtroom? Jeez!
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