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Yesterday morning, I sat in a courtroom full of defense lawyers and we agreed that a hung jury was the most likely outcome. We didn’t say but I think some of them were Trump supporters, for which I apologize, I thought Defense lawyers would be better in their politics.
I personally thought it’s a lot for any one person to say the former president of their country should be convicted of a crime, regardless of the evidence. It’s a pretty heavy responsibility. Another defense attorney pointed out that Trump is especially disliked in New York and might view it as a badge of honor rather than a burden.
But for me, it’s a happy surprise. Our decrepit system of justice has worked well enough to do what most countries haven’t, convict a corrupt former head of state. We didn’t do it with Nixon (pardoned), G.W. Bush (Obama memory holed his war crimes) and Aaron Burr was only vice president when he killed this guy in a duel (you might have heard about it I hear there’s a musical and it’s a whole thing.)
This sets a precedent and it’s a good one. (Though you can bet Biden is going to be prosecuted by any D.A. in a southern state that can twist a law far enough to get an indictment.) And I have no faith that the six Trump goons in robes on the Supreme Court will not find a way to meddle in this state conviction and throw it out. But at the moment, our country, and twelve New York citizens have done a good, no better a great thing. An important thing. For once, for now, justice is served.
