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   From: dlentz10@/*NOSPAM*/rochester.rr.com   
      
   "Peter H. Proctor" wrote:   
   >   
   > On Fri, 19 Dec 2003 22:26:28 GMT, David Lentz   
   >  wrote:   
   >   
   > >  The Constitution does not demand perfect process of   
   > >law only due process of law.   
   >   
   >          Interesting point.  Recently,   here in Texas,   compelling   
   > evidence came up of a person's innocence _after_ they had run thru all   
   > their statutory appeals.      This limitation came about because   
   > people were offended by extended appeals..   The person had had "due   
   > process by any existing legal definition.   
   >   
   >            The court of criminal appeals ( all elected for being   
   > "tough on crime")   was faced with following the law and sending a   
   > pretty-obviously innocent party to prison because of this "legal   
   > technicality".       So they ruled that imprisoning an innocent party   
   > is itself a violation of due process,  tho there was no precident for   
   > this in case law.   
   >   
   > Dr P   
      
   There was a disturbing case in Texas, albeit I believe not   
   capital, with convicts based on perjured testimony.  That should   
   not bo tolerated.   
      
   In general, it is the jury which determines the facts of the   
   case.   The further removed a jurist is from the jury, the less   
   able he is to determine the facts of the case.   
      
   We should expect and demand honesty from our public officials.   
   We can not afford to seek perfection.   
      
   A credible criminal justice system must convict and punish   
   criminals.  We will be better served by a credible criminal   
   justice system which convicts and punishes criminal along with a   
   occasional innocent person than a non credible criminal justice   
   system.  Ten thousand murders a year is powerful evidence that   
   our criminal justice system is broken.   
      
   David   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)