How America's justice system is beginning to crumble

[mystery-ak]

October 29, 2019
How America's justice system is beginning to crumble
By Robert Arvay

We Americans have long prided ourselves on the fairness of our system of justice.  It remains the best in the world.  But, just like a strong and magnificent bridge across a wide river, corrosion can set in.  If not monitored and repaired, the bridge can suddenly collapse.  Likewise, if we ignore the warning signs, if we do not address the inequities in our justice system, the public will reach a point when there is so little respect for the law that its enforcement will cease to be effective.  The danger is that we might become a lawless society, and that will lead to becoming a failed state.  Chaos and disintegration could follow.

Hyperbole?  Here are seven warning signs, present today, that we ignore at great peril.

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https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/10/how_americas_justice_system_is_beginning_to_crumble.html

[PeteS in CA]

Looks like a very good article, well worth reading in full. To further discussion, here are Arvay's "seven warning signs":

Plea Bargains Coerce the Innocent to Plead Guilty
...
Costly Attorney Fees Enforce Injustice
...
Prosecutor Resources Are Disproportionate
...
Prosecutorial Discretion Abuse Occurs
...
One-Judge Tyrants Deny Justice
...
Jury Nullification Can Be Improperly Forbidden
...
Gaming the System Reinforces Injustice

The first three are inter-related. A prosecutor more interested in wins than justice can up their wins total by using the high cost of defending oneself as a weapon against defendants. Over-charging is another weapon that leverages this economic weapon.

OTOH, plea bargains can be used by violent offenders to offer prosecutors a cheap "win" if the most serious charges are dropped. This results in violent offenders returning to the streets much earlier than is safe for society.

Pull!

[Bigun]

To use the bridge analogy, once a bridge has become visibly and seriously corroded, the need for repair does not require an expert to call attention to it.  In the case of the justice system, most of us can recognize its glaring problems and can offer useful suggestions for remedy.  The danger signs are obvious and ominous.  In many cases, the remedy is suggested merely by identifying the problem and admitting that it is a serious defect in the system.  This is the age of "see something, say something," and more of us need to get involved.

  Absolutely correct!

[PeteS in CA]

"Gaming the System ..." and "One-Judge Tyrants ..." are also inter-related. Activists seek out tyranny-minded judges, who then do their thing. This activist tactic has gone full 'roid-rage since Trump became President.