IF SOMEONE WERE to suggest today a new system of criminal justice – a jury trial system – I should think the idea a trifle absurd. Criminal charges and the trials thereon are, after all, serious matters, and deserve serious consideration by truly impartial judges of the facts. A jury of his peers, you say?
The proposal, as I imagine it, would be to go out into the community at large and hornswoggle a bunch of unwitting citizens to kill a day or two down at the courthouse listening to testimony from a bunch of purported witnesses sworn to tell the truth. These jurors too would be sworn to truly try the matter at hand without prejudice, preconceived notion, or outside influence. Are they serious?
Naturally, lawyers would be present to represent each side of the controversy, which always tends to muddle up the works appreciably. I believe the old saws about “blowing smoke” and “pulling the wool over their eyes” and such must have originated in courts of law. If there is a difference between lying and stretching the truth, it would likely require the keen-eyed vision of the national bird to spot the point where one leaves off and the other commences.
Besides, what’s a “peer” anyway? Down at congress, politicians are peers, but they get along much like cats and dogs and can’t agree on the time of day, let alone weighty matters such as may end up in a court of law.
The jury system proposed imagines that the judge, after the evidence is in, would then instruct the jurors on what law to apply to the facts. The fallacy here is that, one, the jurors would understand the law, and two, that they would in fact follow it. Why, I’ve talked to lawyers, and even a judge or two, who didn’t understand the damned law, and neither did the fools down at the legislature who created it in the first place.
No, I’d rather stick with our present system of justice and forget about using a bunch of idiot jurors who can’t make up their minds about their own lives, let alone someone else’s. The current system of flipping a coin works out just fine, from my observation. At least we can usually make heads and tails of heads and tails.
Advertisement
Stops ostomy odor. And doesn't stop there. ESENTA™ Lubricating Deodorant is a dual-action product that can be used for odor control and lubrication. The spray stops odors and coats the pouch, allowing the stool to fall to the bottom and not build up around the stoma.
Live life more carefree with ESENTA™ Lubricating Deodorant
We are the largest, independent website for people with an ostomy surgery. A vibrant, multi-topic community where people discuss various things, and give each other love and support.
We offer: discussion forums, live chat, dating, blogs, photo sharing, tips, peer-to-peer support and advice.
We offer: discussion forums, live chat, dating, blogs, photo sharing, tips, peer-to-peer support and advice.