Law and Disorder?

Some days a ride on the train is routine, passé, ordinary.  You could substitute the walk to work, the morning drive (morning rush hour… that is not what’s happening on the highways and byways between home and the job) or other mode of transportation.  Today I have a respite from commuting to the historic section of the City of Brotherly and Sisterly Love.

Today I am performing a civic duty.  That’s right I’m a peer of the defendants scheduled to have their day in court.  The term ‘peer’ is given a wide berth in this venue.  I should ask whether the defendant would consider little ole Nikki, appearing in drab costume, indeed a peer. 

The concept of jury trials is interesting.  Of the term ‘criminal justice’ I think one of the two words is correctly associated with the system of rules and regulations that provides opportunities for many people to profit from the error of ways of the less unfortunate.  They are unfortunate for many reasons.  I am not condoning action or inaction on the part of the accused.

The system has weights and anchors tethered to various components.  We’ve seen and read about the spectacle of those whose trials have been newsworthy events.  I don’t want to enjoy that form of notoriety thank you very little.

No I’ve not had the misadventure of being on the short end of the legal stick.  I’m not easily frightened but the specter of incarceration, notwithstanding the offer of three hots and a cot, does nothing to assuage the situation.

What interests me is the concern about inhumane treatment of the imprisoned.  Victim justice stops at the bench occupied by the person in the black robe.  Convict justice seems to transcend the trial.  Maybe the system is stale and there are too many bleeding hearts.  Prison overpopulation is not the problem of the law enforcement community.  If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime!  Thank you Robert Blake.

Although I refuse to admit there is nothing that could shock me I was astonished to learn that graduates of Goddard College chose a convicted murderer to provide the speech that would launch them into adulthood.  Arguments abound on both sides of this emotional divide.  Maybe I’m too conservative; but it seems the antithesis of justice to deify someone convicted by a jury of his peers.   I’m sure there will be response to my comments. Such is life and the First Amendment.

So off I go, adhering to the summons.  A day out of my schedule isn’t the problem.  The rules governing jurors flummox.  Employers are not required to pay for time in service to my community – especially a service I cannot decline.  The court compensates $9.00 per day until the third day when compensation jumps to $25.00 per day.  I understand, nobody in their right mind wants professional jurors.  But to burden the employee and not provide anything that remotely approaches fair compensation is silly beyond any possible explanation.

So I write today’s post expressing what may be not harsh enough to qualify as inequity but there is certainly a case to be made.  Anyone know a good attorney?

Have a wonderful day and don’t feel for me.  I’m a Law and Order junkie.  This may be an opportunity to step into a scene from one of my all time favorite programs.

Love and hugs, Nikki DiCaro