Beyond a Probable Doubt

Let's be honest, the justice system needs a shake-up. The system was designed to give everyone the best chance at a fair trial and consequently a fair outcome, but the rules have become so intricate that nifty lawyers continue to find loopholes to exploit. Moreover, idiot politicians are lobbying to extend the privileges of American citizens to foreigners. Have we become so obsessed with the legal process that we've moved further away from the point of the system?

I'm no expert, but the worst possible outcome of any trial and greatest fear of any judge has to be wrongly imprisoning or punishing an innocent person. Allowing a guilty man to walk, though still wrong, doesn't seem to be as great of a concern. In fact, when a guilty man goes free, his lawyer often proclaims it a success story for the US judicial system. The OJ trial is a prime example of the problem. OJ was found not guilty (not "innocent," by the way) because some idiots at the crime scene mishandled evidence, the race card was an easy one to play, and OJ enlisted the services of the most powerful, knowledgeable, and influential lawyers available. Meanwhile, the prosecution trotted out Lionel Hutz to make the state's case. OJ did everything short of killing his wife on camera while wearing his Buffalo Bills jersey and holding his Heisman
Trophy in the other hand. Stevie Wonder could even see him do it! But because his lawyers were able to find flaws in the system, he walked and continues to search for his wife's killer on golf courses and in Vegas hotels. Casey Anthony will be on trial in the next year for the alleged murder of her daughter Caylee. All the evidence exists to put her away for life, but again she enlisted powerful (read: shady) lawyers to find loopholes in her case. It seems unbelievable, but she could very well walk because, once again, of how evidence was handled at the crime scene.

The reason OJ walked and Casey may is because the law states the defendant must be found guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt." Listen, I get this. I also agree that putting away an innocent person is a horrible consequence. But without all the legal BS, can we at least do a sniff test? Come on, we can all say with 95% conviction that OJ and Casey Anthony are guilty. Can't we use statistical probability to impose a lesser sentence? Can't we tell OJ, "We can't prove 100% that you did it because Bozo the Clown tripped over himself with the evidence, but we're pretty damn sure. Why don't you just go away for a year or two. That'll learn ya"? Would anyone be opposed to Casey Anthony going away for even a little while? Let's get some steam behind this idea.

Speaking of flaws in the justice system, what's all this nonsense about giving Miranda rights to foreign terrorists and/or war criminals? Sorry, bruh, you lost those rights when you became a terrorist. I can't even think of one good reason why these people should be afforded the same rights as American citizens, so I won't even try to justify the other side of the argument. This is a no-brainer, so let's nip it in the bud right now--no need to discuss any further.

What do you think? Aren't you even a bit concerned about these people who we're almost certain are guilty walking out without so much as a slap on the wrist? Sure, Andy Dufresne would likely disagree with me, and these people are often guilty in the court of public opinion for the rest of their lives. But the punishment doled out from that court hardly seems substantial enough.