Judge Not
The world can sleep easier, now that the O is dispensing justice.
As I'm sure you know, Oprah Winfrey received some press this week - like she needs it - not for renewing her contract through the next millennium, but for sitting on a jury. Word came out last week that the Giant Head had been called for jury duty. Well, despite her best efforts, she got into the box, where she and 11 cohorts found defendant Dion Coleman guilty of first degree murder in a trial that spanned all of three days.
Oprah called the experience "an eye-opener" and "a huge reality check." It was life changing - as what is not for Oprah - to discover that "there's a whole other world going on out there."
What was the big surprise? That people are gunned down every day in Chicago, especially over drugs and money, which were at the root of this case? That trial lawyers are by and large working stiffs whose cases look nothing like those on "Law & Order"? That juror meals are so tiny?
As is her wont, Oprah is now planning a "jury reunion" show for next week. I expect all questions will be answered then.
Meanwhile, Lorraine Coleman, the mother of the defendant, had the final word: "I don't watch her show, anyway. I watch Montel. And Maury."
*****
A concerned looking Greta von Susteren - have you noticed that she always looks concerned? Is this a result of her cosmetic surgery? - was distressed that a first degree murder trial took only three days. Of course, Greta and her brood have been following the Scott Peterson case, which is not exactly the model by which all criminal cases should be judged. Granted, I know almost nothing about the Scott Peterson case. The only Scott Peterson I'm familiar with is the lunch meat and sausage company. On the other hand, I'm one of a handful of Americans who never followed the O.J. case. Once again, to me an O.J. case is something that comes from the folks at Tropicana.
I am not surprised that a murder case should be resolved in three days. The vast majority of trials in our criminal courts are not high profile ratings grabbers. Most crimes are committed by stupid people acting as befits their nature. The perpetrators are shuffled through the system as quickly as possible by courts seeking to catch up on their caseload. I once sat in a courtroom as a witness to an assault that was resolved in less than an hour. As I waited for the case to be called, I watched a fistful of drug offenders pass through and have justice meted out to them, in varying degrees. The speed with which most capital crimes are decided is one reason that death penalty opponents are so adamant in their cause.
At the same time, Oprah's case is of more interest to me than O.J.'s or Peterson's. The defendant lives in Chicago and has a criminal background. Should he be guilty and yet be released, my well-being is in more immediate danger than if Scott Peterson runs free.
As I'm sure you know, Oprah Winfrey received some press this week - like she needs it - not for renewing her contract through the next millennium, but for sitting on a jury. Word came out last week that the Giant Head had been called for jury duty. Well, despite her best efforts, she got into the box, where she and 11 cohorts found defendant Dion Coleman guilty of first degree murder in a trial that spanned all of three days.
Oprah called the experience "an eye-opener" and "a huge reality check." It was life changing - as what is not for Oprah - to discover that "there's a whole other world going on out there."
What was the big surprise? That people are gunned down every day in Chicago, especially over drugs and money, which were at the root of this case? That trial lawyers are by and large working stiffs whose cases look nothing like those on "Law & Order"? That juror meals are so tiny?
As is her wont, Oprah is now planning a "jury reunion" show for next week. I expect all questions will be answered then.
Meanwhile, Lorraine Coleman, the mother of the defendant, had the final word: "I don't watch her show, anyway. I watch Montel. And Maury."
*****
A concerned looking Greta von Susteren - have you noticed that she always looks concerned? Is this a result of her cosmetic surgery? - was distressed that a first degree murder trial took only three days. Of course, Greta and her brood have been following the Scott Peterson case, which is not exactly the model by which all criminal cases should be judged. Granted, I know almost nothing about the Scott Peterson case. The only Scott Peterson I'm familiar with is the lunch meat and sausage company. On the other hand, I'm one of a handful of Americans who never followed the O.J. case. Once again, to me an O.J. case is something that comes from the folks at Tropicana.
I am not surprised that a murder case should be resolved in three days. The vast majority of trials in our criminal courts are not high profile ratings grabbers. Most crimes are committed by stupid people acting as befits their nature. The perpetrators are shuffled through the system as quickly as possible by courts seeking to catch up on their caseload. I once sat in a courtroom as a witness to an assault that was resolved in less than an hour. As I waited for the case to be called, I watched a fistful of drug offenders pass through and have justice meted out to them, in varying degrees. The speed with which most capital crimes are decided is one reason that death penalty opponents are so adamant in their cause.
At the same time, Oprah's case is of more interest to me than O.J.'s or Peterson's. The defendant lives in Chicago and has a criminal background. Should he be guilty and yet be released, my well-being is in more immediate danger than if Scott Peterson runs free.
posted by John Bliss at
11:23 AM
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