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Today's Poll: Should defendants have the right to appeal their convictions and sentences?

By Howard B. Owens
Dave Olsen

The courts are one of the very few legitimate functions of government. The constitution guarantees us the right of a fair trial by jury and the right to sue someone if you are wronged. Of course, it seems that more & more of our guaranteed rights are being eroded. The system has been warped pretty bad as well with all the crazy things people sue over.

Jul 31, 2013, 6:27pm Permalink
david spaulding

seems to me that 20 % of the respondents didn't understand the question......
do a google for Anthony capozi.......... I can only hope you nay sayers are never wrongfully convicted......sheesh....

Jul 31, 2013, 8:06pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

" Let 100 criminals go free rather than 1 man be wrongfully convicted"

That is a basic tenant of American justice, and one of the most important safeguards of liberty

Jul 31, 2013, 9:29pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

I would say it's a pretty scary ordeal being accused of something and having a bunch of unknowns on a jury deciding your fate. That's why the right of appeal is so important. After my own experience with my fellow Genesee county citizens while serving as a juror, I would never want my fate placed in the hands of a jury.

A jury can be composed of every walk of life and differing levels of intelligence. Just look at the broad spectrum of personalities that make comments on this website. That's who decides your guilt or innocence. Pretty scary, huh?

The bottom line is, innocent people are sent to prison every day. If being run through the meat grinder called our justice system was so perfect, we wouldn't need an organization called the innocence project.

We read all the time about how prosecutors and crooked courts squash vindicating evidence. We read about how our right are being eroded..the NSA being willing to totally ignore our right to privacy and the IRS targeting specific groups of people for increased scrutiny.

The courts and prosecutors are powerful. We all need the right to be able to stand up for our rights and have the ability to right a wrong done to us. Appeals give everyone that opportunity. Anyone that said "no" to this poll should read the constitution and rethink how lucky they are...about how lucky they are that a bunch of men AND women fought literally to their death to ensure that you and I would have the rights that we all take for granted.

Jul 31, 2013, 11:29pm Permalink

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