Judge's instructions to Sandusky jury - MUST READ

[eclaires]

Some of this is kind of crazy to me, but I've seen jury instructions for a horrifying sexual abuse case (father and his daughters) when I clerked for a judge in Indiana.

They weren't much different, honestly. Jury instructions in criminal cases always read (to me) like the judge wants the jury to acquit, in my experience (1st degree murder trial, sexual abuse/molestation and a reckless driving/vehicular homicide).

[eclaires]

I also agree with eddy that my tinfoil hat is going ca-razy! Even though I don't think the jury instructions are that off. I just think all of the stuff surrounding this case is b-a-n-a-n-a-s.

[summer]

Jun 21, 2012 13:55:20 GMT -5 toledo said:

Jun 21, 2012 13:53:48 GMT -5 summer said:

If he goes free, he'll be somewhere in southeast Asia picking up orphan boys off the street within the year. Trust.

He'll never make it to the airport.

You think he's gonna get got?

[Deleted]

No clue about the actual charges in his case, but I suspect there are a laundry list of charges ranging from the actual rapes, to just touching. In many states, there is a specific charge that involves touching for a sexual purpose and I suspect that snippet of the instruction is referring to the corresponding charge in this case.

[runforrest]

There are over 50 counts on which the jury needs to decide, right?

Surely he won't be acquited on every.single.count, right? Right?!?!

I am convince that the entire state of PA is in on this to protect their preshus stupid football team (and I get the love of football, being a Michigan alum).

[EloiseWeenie]

Have you guys seen this video from one of the character witnesses for the defense? :-| After watching this, if Sandusky walks we know something is wrong with the Kool Aid.

video-embed.pennlive.com/services/player/bcpid619299306001?bctid=1697193884001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAQBxUw0E~,DELAM66vw4yOrqHiP3Xjm16pYSWVuMF5

[ECB]

What is all this $$ these people keep talking about? I don't get how coming forward and admitting your a victim of sexual abuse is going to make you rich.

[copzgirl1171]

He will walk. I have already prepared myself. This judge is a vile as Sandusky.

[Black Lavender]

Jun 21, 2012 14:07:29 GMT -5 summer said:

Jun 21, 2012 13:55:20 GMT -5 toledo said:

He'll never make it to the airport.

You think he's gonna get got?

Lord forgive me for saying this, but if he gets off, i won't shed a tear if someone does him Sam Jackson in A Time to Kill style

[IIOY]

Jun 21, 2012 15:44:48 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Jun 21, 2012 9:41:36 GMT -5 druidp said:

OK, we really need to discuss this and dissect it to pieces.

Taken from the ESPN article here: espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8080223/penn-state-nittany-lions-judge-john-cleland-throws-3-51-counts-jerry-sandusky

The judge said jurors will each get a list showing each accuser, a worksheet of each alleged crime that will have questions they must answer in order to reach a verdict, along with a verdict slip.

"We make few decisions in life that are free from all doubt," he told them. "You must be convinced to the same degree that you would act in a matter of your own life."

He explained that just the "mere suspicion of guilt" is not enough to arrive at a guilty verdict.

"You may believe he exercised poor judgment, but poor judgment in itself does not warrant criminality," he said. He also said that it is "not necessarily a crime to shower with a boy, lather with soap, engage in back rubbing."

Sounds pretty standard. And I am sure the list of jury instructions was much, much longer than this.

This bears emphasis. Jury instructions are always a mile long; this is but one, tiny portion, and as I mentioned above, the burden of proof is very high and *always* sounds nearly impossible to meet. I don't think there is a need for wailing and gnashing of teeth just yet.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Jun 21, 2012 16:08:59 GMT -5 IIOY said:

Jun 21, 2012 15:44:48 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Sounds pretty standard. And I am sure the list of jury instructions was much, much longer than this.

This bears emphasis. Jury instructions are always a mile long; this is but one, tiny portion, and as I mentioned above, the burden of proof is very high and *always* sounds nearly impossible to meet. I don't think there is a need for wailing and gnashing of teeth just yet.

I know I'm way late, but I really think this needs emphasizing.

[KB]

the FUCK?