The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Paul P. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Observe - Judicial Trial
Which is the greater sin: to convict the innocent or acquit the guilty? I found myself grappling with this question as the court session regarding a break-in went forward. Its purpose was to determine if the case held against the defendant was strong enough for an actual trial. It was a case where the heart and soul cried "guilty!" but circumstantial evidence left the mind without true certainty.
When I had entered the courthouse, I was unsure of what I should do or where I should go to sit in on a trial. After getting a couple of pointers from some employees about which courtroom had the most interesting cases, I headed upstairs to the first courtroom on the left: criminal misdemeanors. Honorable Lisa L. Asadoorian was presiding there over.
The first case I observed was about a youth driving under the influence of drugs. After that followed three cases in which the defendant was absent; at least one of which resulted in a warrant for the defendant's arrest. After that, the big case began: the break-in.
The case depended on a single piece of forensic evidence: a fingerprint found on a knocked over picture frame that had been resting next to one of several now stolen items. To be brief, although the defendant had been in that house three times before with some friends, she never had any reason to enter the room that had contained the now stolen item. She was never seen to enter that room during the three times she was there.
The statements that the witnesses brought forth only went so far. Little of what was said could clearly indicate what actually happened. Their testimonies for the most part could only be used as additional support if the defendant were found guilty. The evidence appeared to logically support the case, but gave no definitive proof.
At the end of the case, the judge determined that the charge was legitimate enough to be carried to an actual trial. Whether the defendant will be declared guilty is yet to be seen. It seems unlikely at this point, unless the prosecution has more to bring to the table.
It was definitely a good experience to observe the judicial branch, if for no other reason than to remember that it is run by ordinary people. Too often, the courtroom is portrayed as either vicious and backstabbing, or as some sort of emotionless machine that simply is.
As for my musings, I’ve decided that it is worse to convict the innocent than acquit the guilty. After all, the guilty can always be caught and charged again. If they continue in sin they will only strengthen the web they are trapped in, as well as future evidence against them. As for the innocent, once charged, they can never go back. They could lose their friends, their jobs, the trust of their family, and if married they could possibly lose their spouse as well.
Because of this realization, I find myself respecting the concept of "beyond reasonable doubt" as well as the other precautions taken in court more than ever before. I don’t know of a better way that the branches of government could have been founded.
