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Justice on Trial: Lynne Stewart's Appeal
Lynne was wrongfully imprisoned for 10 years. Incarcerating her for 10 minutes is an appalling miscarriage of justice.
by Stephen Lendman
Lynne's case highlights American judicial unfairness. Her wrongful indictment, prosecution, conviction, sentencing, and harsher re-sentencing sacrificed her on the alter of upholding wrong over right.
On February 29, US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit arguments were heard on her behalf. She wasn't there, but supporters packed the courtroom as she hoped. More on the hearing below.
Criminal justice includes law enforcement involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and incarcerating those found guilty of crimes following rule of law standards.
Doing so requires proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors bear the burden, or they're supposed to. Judicial fairness can't exist without it. In America, it never did and doesn't now.
Moreover, US law gives jurors no reasonable doubt guidance. Prosecutors take full advantage. Innocent victims suffer unjustly. America's system is inherently unfair. Nothing's done to fix it.
The American Bar Association's Model Code of Judicial Conduct preamble calls for:
- "An independent, fair and impartial judiciary," calling it "indispensable to our system of justice, (composed of) men and women of integrity;
- Judges....at all times (ensuring) the greatest possible public confidence in their independence, impartiality, integrity, and competence; (and)
- standards (of) ethical conduct, (including) overarching principles of judicial ethics (and fairness), consistent with constitutional requirements, statutes, other court rules, and decisional law, and with due regard for all relevant circumstances."
Above all, it requires truth, impartiality, and judicial fairness upholding fundamental rule of law standards.
Merriam-Webster defines fair as:
- "marked by impartiality and honesty;
- free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism;
- conforming with the established rules; (and)
