My Take: Uninformed juries produce incorrect outcomes

[surada]

Rittenhouse did not get the benefit of restorative justice. Some things to consider.

My Take: Uninformed juries produce incorrect outcomes

Restorative processes could significantly help disrupt these cycles. Interrupting dishonest narratives would be a good start.

news.yahoo.com

Excerpt:

I was a troubled teen. I remember the day I was called to my high school’s administrative office to receive a call. He gave me advice I have never forgotten. He told me that he had been notified that the police were going to arrest me and that I needed to tell the truth even if it was going to get me in trouble.

I was in my early 30s when I reflected upon this wisdom when performing part of his eulogy. It was horrible legal advice, but I know it saved my soul.

The mistakes I made as a teenager have informed my whole life’s purpose. My doctoral dissertation, on forgiveness, would not have been written if I had not accounted for my own moral failings.

Kyle Rittenhouse represents a character in the larger story of the divided American society. I follow these events and the attitudes and opinions surrounding them as an expert researcher focused on healing divided societies. There are many bifurcations, and the casualties that are not being discussed are healing and truth. His acquittal is a springboard, and the public is now at increased threat.

No criminal trial is motivated by healing or truth. Trials are about fact finding and fact exclusion. The truth, for example, that after pleading not guilty earlier this year Kyle posed with Proud Boys while flashing a white power hand sign and T-shirt that said “Free as F---,” was not allowed in trial. Rittenhouse remains “Free as F---,” unpermitted facts notwithstanding.

continued

 

[fncceo]

If a jury remains uninformed, that is the fault of the prosecution.

 

[surada]

If a jury remains uninformed, that is the fault of the prosecution.

Did you read the whole article?

continued......

This process focuses on justifying punishment for offenders who have been convicted beyond reasonable doubt, but uninformed juries cannot make informed decisions.

This is not justice, and it does nothing for healing. The families of the victims, the communities, Kyle Rittenhouse, and so on … nothing about the process is intended to help them heal or find closure. Punitive justice serves a role, but there are other options. The verdict only affirms that the US remains committed to its long history of vigilantism, an ugly bloodlust embedded throughout the American mythology promoting white supremacy.

 

[fncceo]

Did you read the whole article?

continued......

This process focuses on justifying punishment for offenders who have been convicted beyond reasonable doubt, but uninformed juries cannot make informed decisions.

This is not justice, and it does nothing for healing. The families of the victims, the communities, Kyle Rittenhouse, and so on … nothing about the process is intended to help them heal or find closure. Punitive justice serves a role, but there are other options. The verdict only affirms that the US remains committed to its long history of vigilantism, an ugly bloodlust embedded throughout the American mythology promoting white supremacy.

So you seek to punish this young man, despite a jury finding him innocent of all charges.

The media had their way with this boy's life for a year. Public figures, believing they spoke with impunity villified him. He's not only suffered enough, he deserves a major portion of retribution of his own.

 

[gipper]

So you seek to punish this young man, despite a jury finding him innocent of all charges.

The media had their way with this boy's life for a year. Public figures, believing they spoke with impunity villified him. He's not only suffered enough, he deserves a major portion of retribution of his own.

Rittenhouse should take a very low profile. The left still wants him imprisoned or worse.

I wonder how many Americans who consume only legacy news think he murdered black men.

 

[surada]

So you seek to punish this young man, despite a jury finding him innocent of all charges.

The media had their way with this boy's life for a year. Public figures, believing they spoke with impunity villified him. He's not only suffered enough, he deserves a major portion of retribution of his own.

For taking a weapon to a protest, breaking curfew, defying the police and killing two people??????? Are you sure? Why was he drinking with Proud Boys after he made bail? Look at the big picture.

 

[Confederate Soldier]

Dude, he was found innocent. How much more do you want?


A jury is supposed to be impartial, so we often don't get what we want, but according to the law it is right.

 

[surada]

Rittenhouse should take a very low profile. The left still wants him imprisoned or worse.

I wonder how many Americans who consume only legacy news think he murdered black men.

Article conclusion:

After I plead guilty I had punishment. I had to pay fines and restitution, I was placed on probation, had my drivers license suspended and I had to complete community service in lieu of incarceration. I’m not dismissing the presence of positive value in these features of punitive justice, but to acknowledge that it is incomplete. Rittenhouse will not experience any of those benefits, we can only hope that something else can stimulate healing and accountability.

If the US took restorative justice more seriously there would be considerable benefit to the communities and individuals impacted in these tragedies. These processes can create spaces for real dialog between victims and offenders, which is proven to increase accountability among offenders and empower victims. Making amends can help heal and even grow.

If you do not believe growth is needed, consider the cultural questions being raised in the trial. Prosecuting attorney Binger observed, “I think we can all agree we shouldn’t have 17-year-olds running around the street with AR-15s because this is what happens,” but clearly the alt-right and militia groups did not see it this way.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate and extremism, has sounded alarms for increases in hate crimes and violence in recent years and observes the lionization of Rittenhouse through “not factually based” propaganda.

Restorative processes could significantly help disrupt these cycles. Interrupting dishonest narratives would be a good start. I have personally observed no shortage of people who believe that the shootings were heroic acts of patriotism and whom claim they would like to have the chance to do the same thing.

This reflects great ideological divides — not a melting pot — where difference is a justification for harm and not a source of strength. Each verdict — guilty or not — only makes the need of reconciliation greater.

— Wim Laven, Ph.D.

 

[pknopp]

The argument seems to be that even though he was found not guilty he should still be punished. I can't quite wrap my head around that.

 

[surada]

Nothing has interdicted Rittenhouse's behavior. "Justice" has doomed him.

Rittenhouse says he fired former attorney Lin Wood because ...

Rittenhouse says he fired former attorney Lin Wood because of his support for QAnon and election-fraud conspiracy theories

"He's insane… how he thinks he's God and he just says all these weird things," said Rittenhouse of Lin Wood, who used to represent him.

news.yahoo.com

Nov 24, 2021 · Kyle Rittenhouse said that he fired his former attorney, Lin Wood, because of his belief in QAnon and election-fraud conspiracy theories. Rittenhouse made the claim in …

 

[Blues Man]

We need to overhaul our justice system and establish a professional jury pool instead of forcing people to serve

 

[gipper]

For taking a weapon to a protest, breaking curfew, defying the police and killing two people??????? Are you sure? Why was he drinking with Proud Boys after he made bail? Look at the big picture.

So you think Rittenhouse guilty on all charges. You’ll have to defend that not with a biased article, but with logic. Got any?

 

[fncceo]

For taking a weapon to a protest, breaking curfew, defying the police and killing two people??????? Are you sure? Why was he drinking with Proud Boys after he made bail? Look at the big picture.

Taking a weapon to prevent looting -- not only legal, honorable
Breaking curfew -- what curfew? Were the rioters charged with breaking curfew?
Defying police -- how? Police cannot order someone to not protect themselves or their property.
Killing two people? Two felons who attacked him violently.
Drinking with Proud Boys? Perfectly legal. Are you suggesting we bring back prohibition?

You don't like this boy because he didn't roll over and allow property to be looted by the real criminals in this scenario.

His only crime in your mind is that he didn't allow jacked-up hooligans to burn, loot, and destroy for no reason with impunity.

 

[fncceo]

I think we can all agree we shouldn’t have 17-year-olds running around the street with AR-15s because this is what happens,

I think we need more young men -- and women -- to know how to use a firearm to defend themselves. The world needs fewer victims, not more.

 

[Indeependent]

Did you read the whole article?

continued......

This process focuses on justifying punishment for offenders who have been convicted beyond reasonable doubt, but uninformed juries cannot make informed decisions.

This is not justice, and it does nothing for healing. The families of the victims, the communities, Kyle Rittenhouse, and so on … nothing about the process is intended to help them heal or find closure. Punitive justice serves a role, but there are other options. The verdict only affirms that the US remains committed to its long history of vigilantism, an ugly bloodlust embedded throughout the American mythology promoting white supremacy.

I was wondering why Black juries always exonerate Black defendants.

 

[fncceo]

For those who have a problem with conflating self-defense with vigilantism, I offer up the wisdom of the warrior-poet, Will Smith...

 

[budboomer]

Rittenhouse flashed the white power sign? Like this one?

 

[surada]

I was wondering why Black juries always exonerate Black defendants.

They don't.........

 

[surada]

For those who have a problem with conflating self-defense with vigilantism, I offer up the wisdom of the warrior-poet, Will Smith...

View attachment 569630

Self-defense and vigilantism are NOTHING alike.

 

[fncceo]

Self-defense and vigilantism are NOTHING alike.

You're correct ... Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense.