Juryless rape trial pilot in disarray as Edinburgh and Glasgow lawyers back boycott
LAWYERS in Edinburgh and Glasgow have voted to boycott the Scottish Government’s plans for juryless trials in rape cases, warning that the pilot scheme could lead to miscarriages of justice.
I hate jury duty as much as the next person but if someone's freedom is in peril I'll do my bit to pass judgement on the evidence presented.
I'd expect the same in return from my peers.
You'll be disappointed by your peers.
In this day and age, a jury of peers is a punchline.
We all should be trying to get on juries, because that is how you stop the weaponization of the criminal justice system. Happily doing jury duty is how you nullify repugnant laws, or more importantly, activist prosecutors. The civil rights movement faced the same problem in the south, white juries would acquit white defendants accused of violence against blacks.
This is why they want to get rid of juries for rape cases, because a jury could acquit.
Think about what would happen if people like us were on the D.C. juries currently hanging everyone the deep state tries related to the 6 January protest. Would you acquit? I would, and no amount of evidence could change my mind.
I'd like to think that I would make my decision based on the evidence presented but, of course, I have my own experience and thoughts which I have to take into account too otherwise I'm a useless cog in the machine and would be at the mercy of another impotent part of the mechanics should my jury not reflect on their own experiences at my potential trial.
A jury is quite possibly the most important element in a court case requiring them as it takes the onus away from the state and places it upon those who make up the foundations of that state - just like a democratic election does.