I think with the system as it is, the death penalty cannot work.

Too many innocent people go to prison.

right

even with the "Beyond a reasonable doubt" standard. I feel like juries are too manipulable

but that's the best system we've got

So I'm sort of glad it takes that long?

and, arguably, the best judicial system in the world

I guess?

That standard is the ideal.

But it isn't really the 'rule' in a sense.

As application of it depends on judges and juries.

it's difficult. laws are written by people who are subject to fault. a statute can be written in an awkward and clunky way, it can be too narrow or to broad; the interpretation of it can be too literal or too nebulous.

Juries may be instructed only to convict based upon the statute, but may chose to ignore it

just so many variables because..welll...humans are involved

Or you know, no one tells them what that standard is.

And that happens all too frequently.

It's why we need criminal defense lawyers.

right

then there's the whole jury selection process. talk about adversarial

Attempt to stack as much bias for your side, yes.

i remember when i was called for jury duty and was given a questionnaire to answer

some of the things seemed pretty irrelevant to my ability to be impartial, but i'm sure it's a tried and proven metric

like "What news sources do you read?" or something like that

seems pretty innocuous, but. . .

That is very relevant.

You don't want a jury that knows the case.

Imagine for a moment someone reads a WaPo article about Kyle.

Or forbid a Vox article.

with a high profile case like that, though - it's got to be pretty tough to find a jury pool that doesn't know the case

but i get your point

Yep, that's the hard part.

the case i was called for was one where two young african american men were accused of shooting at police officers in an armed stand-off

so i dont know. maybe my race, the fact that I read realclearpolitics, bloomberg news, etc may be a factor or not a factor

@Neph (Nec) / Krystaps (War), you just advanced to level 6!

but, i was dismissed

Race is unfortunately taken into account during these things.

It's one of the systemic influences of racial discrimination that still exist.

"Juror #8, how do you feel about banks?"
"I hate them. A bank killed my dad."

"Juror 8 dismissed"

hah

my father was called as a potential juror in a case involving a drunk driver killing someone

he got out of it by saying that his friend was killed by a drunk driver