Juries

[mrveggieman]

With the obvious miscarriage of justice in the Trayvon Martin, casey anthony and other high profile cases over the years is it time we change the constitution right to a trial of a jury of your peers? Before everyone comes to the offensive I am not saying that we should eliminate juries or not but there is an obvious flaw in the system that needs to be addressed. Despite most of you who want to pretend that it never happens in Amerikkka there is a huge racial bias in the our criminal justice system. Also with the Casey Anthony case which had nothing to do with case that woman (and I use the term losely) was guilty as sin and she was able to go home. What are your thoughts?

[duane1969]

First, I don't disagree that racial bias exist, however the idea that the only racist people in this country are white people is about as far from the truth as it gets. Being white I think that I would hear racial jokes pretty often if that was the case, but I hear the word cracker, ™™™™ and wop out of the mouths of non-whites much more than I hear racial slurs from whites. You need to watch Comedy Central for a very short period of time to hear jokes directed at whites, Latinos, Asians and Jews, but you will almost never hear a joke directed at blacks unless the comedian is black.

As for eliminating trial by jury, that is illogical. You don't think that a jury of 12 people can be unbiased, but you expect one individual judge to be? People always want to change thing when they don't get their way. Changing out entire legal system because you don't like the way the Zimmerman or Anthony case went makes no sense. Trial by jury sends thousands and thousands of criminals to prison every year. Trashing the entire system because you didn't get the ruling you want in one or two cases is a knee-jerk reaction.

[mrveggieman]

First, I don't disagree that racial bias exist, however the idea that the only racist people in this country are white people is about as far from the truth as it gets. Being white I think that I would hear racial jokes pretty often if that was the case, but I hear the word cracker, ™™™™ and wop out of the mouths of non-whites much more than I hear racial slurs from whites. You need to watch Comedy Central for a very short period of time to hear jokes directed at whites, Latinos, Asians and Jews, but you will almost never hear a joke directed at blacks unless the comedian is black. Sorry but I am going to blame white people for that one. If they stop paying non whites to insult them then the jokes would stop.

As for eliminating trial by jury, that is illogical. You don't think that a jury of 12 people can be unbiased, but you expect one individual judge to be? People always want to change thing when they don't get their way. Changing out entire legal system because you don't like the way the Zimmerman or Anthony case went makes no sense. Trial by jury sends thousands and thousands of criminals to prison every year. Trashing the entire system because you didn't get the ruling you want in one or two cases is a knee-jerk reaction. I'm not sure what the best soulution should be but there needs to be some type of overhaul to our justice system.

responses in bold

[Wickabee]

I really don't think juries are the problem. I think media is. The media made this look like a slam dunk case a year ago. From everything I've heard and read there simply wasn't enough evidence to warrant conviction.
Media needs to back down. It was a sure thing Zimmerman would fry. Same with Anthony and Simpson. The prosecutors listened and went to trial without enough evidence. They're relying on the court of public opinion and that doesn't give justice either way.

[habsheaven]

I wanted this case to be judged by judge alone. Having a jury was the only snowball's chance the prosecution had of getting a conviction.

[shrewsbury]

Sorry but I am going to blame white people for that one. If they stop paying non whites to insult them then the jokes would stop.

how about have some morals and ethics? I would not sling racial hate around in any fashion no matter who paid me what.

[duane1969]

responses in bold

I guess I didn't realize that it was our fault that others are racist too. Heaven forbid that non-whites should be responsible for their own words, thoughts and actions.

As for overhauling the legal system, what happens when you get your overhaul and still don't get the conviction you want? Just keep overhauling it over and over? The justice system works just fine.

[mrveggieman]

I guess I didn't realize that it was our fault that others are racist too. Heaven forbid that non-whites should be responsible for their own words, thoughts and actions.

As for overhauling the legal system, what happens when you get your overhaul and still don't get the conviction you want? Just keep overhauling it over and over? The justice system works just fine.

Works fine for who? The rich and powerful? White people when charged with a crime against a black person? No the system needs a major overhaul. As far as the jokes I look at it like this. Say a guy goes to a hooker to and pays her to do something that degrades him. (feel free to use your own imagination) The hooker wouldn't voulunteer to go up to the guy to do that unless she was paid for her services. Same for the comedians and their jokes.

[Wickabee]

Zimmerman is half Jewish and half Hispanic.
Go ask the KKK exactly how "white" he is.

[Wickabee]

Also, are you saying you would be fine with a racist white comedian if black people paid to see it? You'd be mad at those black people and would lay no blame on the white person? You wouldn't point out that he's racist and say he shouldn't be allowed to perform