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#21
01-25-2007, 06:09 PM
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I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on this, and the bottom line is this stinks from head to toe, but there's something called jury nullification, that every prospective juror should know about before hand. It basically means a juror is within his or her right to judge both the facts of the case and the law itself. If they believe the law is unjust, they can aquit despite the "facts". No judge will ever mention this, as they pretty much control the outcome of the case based on their "juror instructions".
In fact, mentioning jury nullification might be a great way to get out of jury duty. 
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#22
01-25-2007, 06:33 PM
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Quote:
That is a life lesson taught to America by Paris Hilton. That being said, this case is the saddest commentary on the american justice system. Prosecutorial misconduct is rampant in courtrooms across the country, DA's are only concerned about their conviction statistics, right or wrong is simply a non factor to them. Witness the Duke lacrosse players case, fortunately the DA in that case is going to get his just punishment by being disbarred, then hopefully jailed. The prosecutor in this case should be next, and the legislators in Georgia should be embarassed by this disgraceful situation.
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#23
01-25-2007, 07:20 PM
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That is disgusting. 100% wrong.
When I was in college I wrote an entire thesis about this issue and about statutory rape laws across the country. Some states have the idea right with the year-differential clauses, but some are still archaically wrong like this one. It was fascinating to look at it nationwide, but it was also saddening because I read lots of accounts that are eerily similar to this one. The laws are well-meaning but they are not written correctly and the punishments do not fit the crime in many cases. It was the most depressing paper I ever had to research, because I found that these cases revolve around race more often than around the laws themselves. Put a white kid in his shoes and the prosecutor would have been singing a totally different tune.
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#24
01-25-2007, 09:57 PM
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I totally disagree with this ten year sentence, but where do we draw the line? Would a consenting 14 year old be ok? What about a 13 year old who has been bumped up a grade? You have to admit at some point it does matter.
I'll play the devil's advocate a bit. Perhaps seeing the maturity level of the girl persuaded the jury to say guilty. Maybe it was the fact they were given drugs and alcohol. This article is written to favor this young man and he still doesn't come off all that well. Could be a little more to the story. And lastly ... what are the odds of his new attorney going by the name BJ and working pro bono?
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#25
01-25-2007, 11:45 PM
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My oh my If I had video tapped everything I done a teenager I'd still be in the pokie today some 18 years later today. Just to name a few things I done, broke into the Army Cor. of Engineers Dam and had A look around one night. T.P'ed the governor Clinton's Lake House, stole a city bus in Little Rock for a drive around the block for an hour or so, broke into Magic Springs and went on the Log Ride after hours. The list is a mile long. The thing thta gets me was I was never caught. I see where some kids get caught the 1st time they do something wrong and I'm like they could've been me so many times. I guess we were either very lucky or smart. I think it was a little of both. If getting oral sex is the worst this kid did then I feel sorry for him. I mean 3 years difference is really no that long on the years above the age of 15 come on. Who hasn't dated a person 3 years their younger? I know I have many times even growing up.
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#26
01-26-2007, 12:27 AM
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my whole problem is the law. Its not a felony if their is penetration but, it is a felony if its oral. Sucks to be kid, but you just don'y put yourself in that situation with it on tape. But wow how backward is that law.....
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