Outcomes predetermined
by Elouise
Outcomes predetermined –
No need for witnesses
News cameras keep rolling —
Capturing unwillingness
to accept self-evident truths
We have not administered
justice for all with an even hand
We have not allowed freedom for all
in this land of the free and home of the brave
We have not believed
Each person of any color or religion
is created equal and entitled
to full protection under the law
Nor have we been able to stem
today’s flood of party-line mantras
and childlike temper tantrums
from The White House
Welcome to Trump’s world and
the world in which brothers and sisters
now celebrating Black History Month
have lived all their lives
Thank you Mr. Trump
for this unexpected opportunity
to move beyond our current state
of habitual denial and fear
Now playing in your city or town
Every night of the week
No tickets needed
Several days ago I read a news report from CNN. It was about the farce of Trump’s impeachment trial. The message from black folks for white folks: “Welcome to our world.” Ironically, this is Black History Month. What will we make of it?
The meaning of justice has always been skewed against black people in this country. The movie Just Mercy shows how difficult it is in this so-called ‘enlightened age’ for black citizens to get justice. The so-called impeachment trial simply used the same tactics, this time to the advantage of a white male President.
- a pre-ordained verdict
- jury nullification (deliberate rejection of evidence or refusal to apply the law)
- the judge as a prop, offering a pretense of impartiality
- one of similar trials in which white men are favored
This is a rare opportunity for all of us. Especially, but not only white citizens. It’s still Black History Month. What better topic than the state of our union?
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 11 February 2020
Photo of Lynching Memorial found at heraldnet.com
Telling the Truth 
A truthful, painful, passionate lament…Lord, hear our prayer.
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Thank you, Nancy. I pray we’ll have the courage to face our fears and listen to those who understand what’s happening, from the inside out.
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At least that’s something the president has given to us: a taste of what our black sisters and brothers have dealt with for so long. Far too long. Sad 😔 ~Natalie
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Indeed. And a great opportunity if we’re willing to take heed. 🙏🏻
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Thank you, Elouise, for pointing out the pattern of injustice displayed in the impeachment trial. As you shared, black people have seen such injustice all their lives.
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You’re welcome, Marilyn. The article in CNN was a gift, along with having seen Just Mercy last week. Among other things, it makes sense out of what seems nonsense.
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Important post! Thank you, Elouise!
I have family members who were born in Mexico, Africa, China, and Korea. (all married into or were adopted into the family.) Also, some family members born in the USA who are black or biracial. So I get a first hand understanding of what they go through and how they feel. 😦
Just Mercy is a great movie! Another one that impacted me was Green Book. So many good movies out there. 🙂
(((HUGS)))
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You’re welcome, Carolyn! And thanks for the movie you mentioned. I haven’t seen Green Book. Your extended family sounds a lot like mine, though we’re scattered around the globe, so I don’t have the advantage of easy conversation or observation. 😟Your family sounds like a branch of the United Nations 😊
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Interesting article!
https://invertedlogicblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/08/a-numeric-argument-for-jury-nullification/
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Thanks! I just checked out your link, and must confess I don’t have enough legal expertise to understand or appreciate your argument. Nonetheless, given the bad behavior of too many juries, I’m thrilled to know someone out there is thinking about ways to achieve just and fair (!) verdicts. Especially for those who’ve been most wronged by current practices.
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Thank you for your kind words.
My argument is actually most based in logic than law.
I based upon my time serving in a grand jury. It is more difficult to get excluded from grand jury proceedings since you are reviewing multiple cases. Whereas in a criminal trial you only review one.
There is a higher aptitude of retaining jurors that may for example have bias against drug laws. The judge will just ask you to excuse your self from any drug cases. Then you will be readmitted to the jurors room once the case is over.
My argument just poses the observation that voting down a motion for an unjust charge has the same effect that removing yourself the case. Both numerically fall in favor of the suspect versus the state.
It then becomes a statement about our perception of state authority. Do laws exist for a reason or is there a grander function of law?
This slides into the debate of what is the function of law and government. Should government serve us or vice Versa?
By complying with determining probably cause purely on the basis of the evidence and the written laws does not evaluate the function of the laws. Is society really safer by indicating an 18 year old on felony drug charges for possessing a dime bag of pot? No. Beyond that it is not only unjust to the suspect but to the tax payer, tax dollars are being squandered on such frivolous matters.
If a down voter has the same effect as excusing yourself the difference is whether or not we defer to 12.2 rule in Arizona. It is an attempt to stifle jury nullification. However, it is irrational because it has no really numeric influence on the outcome.
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Thanks for this response, which I’ve read several times. I think I follow your logic. In any case, I applaud you for drawing on your own grand jury experience in Arizona. I’ve only been recruited to sit in large rooms all day and never be called to the courtroom for anything! I do, however, believe our current system is broken (often from the very beginning), and needs serious attention. One measure of good government (and good juries) is analysis of outcomes in light of what happens next to the defendant. Not forever, but in order to put things right as quickly as possible. Can we do this? I wish I knew. Thank you for giving it your best efforts!
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Thank you. I believe that the numbers of people looking for criminal justice reform are growing.
More and more people are starting to see keeping a quarter of your population (USA) incarcerated is a bad use of resources.
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