Having covered the OJ trial and mishaps over the years and watched his Hall of Fame football career as one of the greatest running backs of all time, I must tell you the story of Orenthal James Simpson is a sad Greek or rather African-American tragedy. It has divided us as a nation, a people and a legal community.

I did not follow this current trial as closely, however, it is my hope that the jury did not compromise our legal system and use this trial as a payback for the sad and unfortunate murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. My prayers continue to go out to their families and it is my hope that one day a criminal court will prosecute someone for these horrible murders. However, we do not believe in a judicial system of payback.  If the facts and evidence in this Las Vegas add up, then the math is clear: Mr. Simpson should do the time.

However, there is a very concerning spirit of “payback” in this country that is not appropriate in any courtroom. The trier of facts, that being the jury, should review the evidence alone in the individual case and reach a conclusion from a preponderance of the evidence or beyond a reasonable doubt or from clear and convincing evidence, dependent on the nature of the crime and the applicable standard of review we use as members of the legal community.

What Are your Thoughts? Leave a comment.

James L. Walker

http://www.walkerandassoc.com

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