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He doesn't need an Internet campaign, he needs a good lawyer. He has a very good chance of winning this case if he takes it to trial. [I am not a lawyer and th
by scythe 13y ago
He doesn't need an Internet campaign, he needs a good lawyer. He has a very good chance of winning this case if he takes it to trial.
[I am not a lawyer and this post is not legal advice.]
The fact that he was detained isn't the problem. Prosecutors try bad cases all the time. They're bloodthirsty inhuman bastards by design. The problem is that his bail was set at $500k even though he was charged with nothing, that he doesn't have a lawyer (read: society has not provided one) competent enough to file a speedy trial motion and vacate this stupid charge on First Amendment grounds by now: the problem is that our legal system is totally broken. Bail that can be brought cf. the Eighth Amendment exists for a reason. Legal counsel cf. the Sixth Amendment exists for a reason. But defense attorneys and jury trials have been vilified to the point that even a "socially conscious" show like The Wire portrays Maurice Levy as the bad guy. And this is the result.
It doesn't matter whether it's a real crime or not: a defendant has the right to be able to make bail. A defendant has the right to a lawyer. A defendant has the right to a fair and speedy trial. The fact that we accept figures like $500k bail for drug dealers, thieves, pimps, whatever is also wrong. Bail is good. He who fights with monsters must take care that he himself does not become a monster, und wenn du lange in einen Abgrund blickst, blickt der Abgrund auch in dich hinein.
- maratd 13y ago> Prosecutors try bad cases all the time. They're bloodthirsty inhuman bastards by design. Agreed. > But defense attorneys and jury trials have been vilified to the point that even a "socially conscious" show like The Wire portrays Maurice Levy as the bad guy. While true, this is not the problem. Private criminal defense attorneys have a horrific reputation, charge through the roof, but are highly competent and get results. Most of them used to be prosecutors and know the system well. There are really two reasons a budding attorney becomes a prosecutor. Because they aspire to political office or because they want to get into private criminal defense. Who ends up as public defenders? Idealistic and inexperienced attorneys who are not paid well. This does not bode well for their clients. You really do want somebody who used to play for the other team. We should abolish public defenders and establish a voucher system where those who cannot afford a private attorney are provided funds to allow them to do so. In the end, it may end up costing use substantially less in tax dollars and get good results for the accused.