SeriouslySearching
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2007
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A Judge here had a ton of cases overturned for giving the wrong instruction to the Jury: Prior to this firm's involvement, Barbara Bell was tried and convicted for second-degree murder by a jury and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Thereafter, Mrs. Bell served two years in prison before the State Court of Criminal Appeals, in 1995, overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial based on a "presumed guilty" instruction routinely offered by the trial judge. Her case was one of many convictions that were overturned on this basis.I have a rant about the myths I keep seeing; like CA rants about innocent until proven guilty.
"Not Guilty" does not mean "Innocent." It only means the jury did not find each element of a crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
"Innocent Until Proven Guilty" only applies to the government and the issue of whether or not the government can impose punishment for a crime. It does not prohibit the public from forming their own individual opinions or exercising their First Amendment rights to state their opinion that the person is guilty of the crime.
Thank you -- feel better already.![]()
http://www.brewsterlaw.com/CM/Custom/Settlements-Verdicts.asp (Bolded by me)