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Justice
for all
Does
anyone really think Martha Stewart will
spend five months in jail? Her lawyers are
already discussing an appeal. Did we expect
Winona to wear the orange jumpsuit for shoplifting?
Paying attention to celebrity-style justice
distracts us from justice for the lower
and middle classes.
There
are two completely different justice systems
in America. One for the rich, and one for
everyone else. Unless the accused is already
well known, the populous doesn't care enough
to follow the umpteenth rape case in Los
Angeles or a teen shoplifter from Long Beach.
The judge's decisions are not scrutinized
the way they are for celebrity cases.
With
the public eye on the Kobe Bryant case,
anything the judge says will be scrutinized.
The publicity helps Bryant's exposure and
boosts profits on his brand merchandise.
Bryant has the time and money to spend on
this case. Other people do not. Often, they
are sentenced and jailed without a second
chance or many times, a jury. The jails
are full and more prisons are being built.
According to the Orange County Public Defender's
website, "Today's prison population
of 1.8 million represents a growth of over
800 percent in the past 30 years."
Citizens' tax dollars build these institutions
and help feed and cloth those who can't
afford bail or a high priced lawyer.
Speaking
of high priced lawyers – did everyone
follow the Orange County Haidl rape case?
The son of Orange County Assistant Sheriff
and his friends were found not guilty of
rape despite the jury being shown a video
the teenagers made involving the boy and
his friends sticking a pool cue, lit cigarette,
Snapple bottle and various body parts into
an unconscious girl's vagina.
Where
is the justice for her? Her dignity, pride
and self-worth will not recover as quickly
as Monica Lewinsky's career. This only proves
that the system is corrupt. If a porn star
can testify for the defense that the girl
was feigning unconsciousness to break into
amateur fetish porn and the jury believes
that over all the evidence to the contrary,
something is seriously wrong with the system.
This
example serves to further the statement
that justice is not something the common
person can afford. If the system can be
manipulated by money or popularity, then
the outcome is not obtained objectively.
What is the point of having a court system
if the decisions handed down are all bias?
Martha Stewart was found guilty. She should
serve her jail time just like anyone else
convicted of a felony.
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