Comments on: UPDATE III: Jeff Ashton: Class Act in the Classless Casey Anthony Case

By: JP

JP — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:09:06 +0000

I asked about the definition of “peers” because, to wit, the lady seemed, in fact, to tried by a jury of her (intellectual) peers.

By: Mari Tyers

Mari Tyers — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:08:42 +0000

Juries are often selected for their emotionality. When my friend (and fellow Millenial) was called for jury duty, she was dismissed when they discovered she was a CPA. While anecdotal, many of her coworkers related similar experiences.

By: Jhonny Reb

Jhonny Reb — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:31:21 +0000

This stupification of juries is due in part to the self-congratulatory attitude of the higher IQ classes in escaping jury duty.

Justice is an essential component of any civilized society and when the civilized opt out…well, we get what we deserve.

We have wrought that which we endure…

By: CompassionateFascist

CompassionateFascist — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:29:31 +0000

Yes, good idea, contemplationist. I’ve had that thought a few times. Except that, in my system, the linking of evidence quality with penalty would be…automatic. This jury-rigging by lawyers is way, way out of hand. As to these particular jurors, Ilana on “Millennials” is a bullseye. Everytime I pick a fare at UCSB, one gets in the cab….somebody + something cystallized their brains: Teachers Unions plus MSM. A lot of meth too….

By: Contemplationist

Contemplationist — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:16:37 +0000

I agree that the decision was a travesty. However, I strongly support the “enmeshing” of probable sentencing and the actual guilt. Their separation is divorced from a Bayesian application of rationality and probability in the real world. A decent application of Bayesianism would be for the state to reform the law to connect the strength of the evidence with the possible penalties.

By: Robert Glisson

Robert Glisson — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:33:18 +0000

Modern juries will not convict if they know or believe that the death sentence will be required. New Mexico made it a law that the death sentence was mandatory for a policeman’s murder. In one case the DA played the tape of the police officer begging his killer not to kill him before the killer shot him (Sound of the shot was also on the tape I think.)The Jury either gave him a verdict of ‘not guilty’ or ‘involuntary manslaughter.’ It was years ago and I had already left the state anyway; but, the newspaper was clear, the jury would not kill. The death penalty is dead in Europe and most of the US, plus she is such a sweet looking thing.

By: JP

JP — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:52:50 +0000

Ilana, what is the definition of “peers” referred to in the US law regarding “a jury of one’s peers”.

By: CompassionateFascist

CompassionateFascist — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 04:32:16 +0000

Well, A.J. Dershowitz sez “the system worked”, and that’s good enuf for me. The murderer goes free, and lawyerman goes to the bank. Yep. AJ’s done that a few timz….

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 04:27:04 +0000

Logic is hardly used by most people as I have found repeatedly. In fact, when I talk about the complete lack of due process on the “guilt” of Bin Laden (I do not doubt his guilt but would have liked to have the specifics established), I get a big “don’t care” back. I guess Trial By Jury in general requires too much intelligence to occur in America these days.