6 ms·

In the US justice system, one is technically always innocent until judged guilty. He had only just begun the legal process. Sadly, the American system has evo

In the US justice system, one is technically always innocent until judged guilty. He had only just begun the legal process. Sadly, the American system has evolved into an administrative model where confessing to something is mandatory to avoid a pernicious experience. My sincere condolences to his friends and family.

rdl 14y ago
Indeed. This leads to weird things like the R. Budd Dwyer incident. He was a Pennsylvania Treasurer who was accused of a crime. He called a press conference and shot himself on stage. Hence, he died without being sentenced (and before being fired), and thus his family got a full pension. The band Filter's song "Hey Man, Nice Shot" is about the incident.
- tokipin 14y ago
  well, that's one way to do it i suppose
- philwelch 14y ago
  Wikipedia says Dwyer was convicted, but not sentenced, when he committed suicide. However, he was not yet removed from office, which is what allowed his family to receive the pension.
  - rdl 14y ago
    Yeah (I edited it based on wikipedia a while ago...). I'd still say "accused", even though he was convicted, because subsequent evidence (and the fact that he shot himself in the head) largely points to him actually having been innocent. The "criminal lawyer" Smith was to blame here.
mtgx 14y ago
Having good defense can also be very expensive in US, right?
- dpe82 14y ago
  I've read in a few places that his defense would cost around a million. http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bully http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bull...
  - at-fates-hands 14y ago
    Even it cost him a million dollars to gain his freedom, wouldn't the fact he's free be more important than how much it would cost him? Considering how intelligent he was and his earning potential (given his young age) as well as the community which obviously adored him - I find it hard to believe a million dollars would be a hardship for him. I mean, if an internet cartoonist can raise over 100K in less than 24 hours, certainly someone of his stature could raise exponentially more?
    - denzil_correa 14y ago
      > I mean, if an internet cartoonist can raise over 100K in less than 24 hours, certainly someone of his stature could raise exponentially more? Quoting Larry Lessig at http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bully http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bull... For in the 18 months of negotiations, that was what he was not willing to accept, and so that was the reason he was facing a million dollar trial in April — his wealth bled dry, yet unable to appeal openly to us for the financial help he needed to fund his defense, at least without risking the ire of a district court judge
  - RoboTeddy 14y ago
    "...and so that was the reason he was facing a million dollar trial in April — his wealth bled dry, yet unable to appeal openly to us for the financial help he needed to fund his defense, at least without risking the ire of a district court judge." Does anyone know what laws prevented Aaron from fundraising for his own defense?
    - SkyMarshal 14y ago

rdl 14y ago

Indeed. This leads to weird things like the R. Budd Dwyer incident. He was a Pennsylvania Treasurer who was accused of a crime. He called a press conference and shot himself on stage. Hence, he died without being sentenced (and before being fired), and thus his family got a full pension. The band Filter's song "Hey Man, Nice Shot" is about the incident.

tokipin 14y ago
well, that's one way to do it i suppose
philwelch 14y ago
Wikipedia says Dwyer was convicted, but not sentenced, when he committed suicide. However, he was not yet removed from office, which is what allowed his family to receive the pension.
- rdl 14y ago
  Yeah (I edited it based on wikipedia a while ago...). I'd still say "accused", even though he was convicted, because subsequent evidence (and the fact that he shot himself in the head) largely points to him actually having been innocent. The "criminal lawyer" Smith was to blame here.

mtgx 14y ago

Having good defense can also be very expensive in US, right?

dpe82 14y ago
I've read in a few places that his defense would cost around a million. http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bully http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bull...
- at-fates-hands 14y ago
  Even it cost him a million dollars to gain his freedom, wouldn't the fact he's free be more important than how much it would cost him? Considering how intelligent he was and his earning potential (given his young age) as well as the community which obviously adored him - I find it hard to believe a million dollars would be a hardship for him. I mean, if an internet cartoonist can raise over 100K in less than 24 hours, certainly someone of his stature could raise exponentially more?
  - denzil_correa 14y ago
    > I mean, if an internet cartoonist can raise over 100K in less than 24 hours, certainly someone of his stature could raise exponentially more? Quoting Larry Lessig at http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bully http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bull... For in the 18 months of negotiations, that was what he was not willing to accept, and so that was the reason he was facing a million dollar trial in April — his wealth bled dry, yet unable to appeal openly to us for the financial help he needed to fund his defense, at least without risking the ire of a district court judge
- RoboTeddy 14y ago
  "...and so that was the reason he was facing a million dollar trial in April — his wealth bled dry, yet unable to appeal openly to us for the financial help he needed to fund his defense, at least without risking the ire of a district court judge." Does anyone know what laws prevented Aaron from fundraising for his own defense?
  - SkyMarshal 14y ago