Casey Anthony Verdict

I believe that those persons who are charged with a criminal offense have a Constitutional right to a trial by jury.   The American jury is a remarkable political institution.  Twelve persons are chosen at random from the widest population; it convenes them for the purpose of the particular trial; it entrusts them with great official powers of decision; it permits them to carry on deliberations in secret and to report their final judgment without giving reasons for it; and after their momentary service to the state has been completed, it orders them to disband and return to private life.  

Casey Anthony had a trial by jury and was acquitted of murder.  You may not like the verdict, you may not agree with the verdict, but it IS the verdict that was reached by 12 persons who heard all of the evidence, deliberated, and made a decision of their own free will.  

It's easy to stand on the sidelines and criticize these American citizens because we did not dedicate our precious time, give up our homes and privacy, and be sequestered from weeks on end with no communication with the outside world.  We didn't have to listen to all of the gory details, listen to family members testify against other family members and try to decide who was and who wasn't telling the truth.  


This jury was not able to convict Casey of murder because they were not sure "beyond a reasonable doubt" that she had committed the crime.  This jury did it's duty and I dare anyone to say that they "knew" that Casey Anthony committed the crime of murder without listening to all of the evidence and being a part of the jury.   What they were able to convict Casey of was lying to the police.  But that does not automatically mean that she should be convicted of murder.



For those persons who have taken it upon themselves to disagree with the jury, have threatened violence to them and their families, shame on you.  Where do you get the right to act this way?  Where do you get the right to condemn a person when you have not heard all of the evidence? 


I may not necessarily agree with the verdict, but I don't have anything to base it on. Therefore, I accept the decision of the jury and due process has been done in this case.  I believe in our Constitution and our right to a trial by jury.  That's what's so great about this country and I wouldn't trade it for anything.