Once again, our President has shown that he has very little regard for the United States Constitution and the laws of the United States. At a time when justice has been served, Pres. Obama simply cannot keep his mouth shut. Why this is, is baffling, especially given his background in the law.
I won't pretend that I know all of the facts of the Zimmerman case. At the same time, I am virtually certain that neither does Pres. Obama. Regardless, I know enough to understand that this case likely should have never even been charged. Generally, in deciding whether to file criminal charges, prosecutors have to ascertain whether they can obtain a guilty verdict. Given the standards in this country of "proof beyond a reasonable doubt", this is a very high burden. What I do know about the Zimmerman case, it seems to me that this standard could never have been satisfied.
You see, in the United States, liberty is one of our most prized if not our most prized right. Understanding this, our forefathers, in writing the U.S. Constitution, placed a heavy burden on the government in the event they sought to take away one rights of liberty. It is the burden on our government to prove, "beyond a reasonable doubt", the guilt of anyone charged with a crime, whose liberty interests are at stake. Some believe this burden is too high. I do not. It is the appropriate burden to place upon a government in a country which places such importance on the concepts of liberty and freedom.
The justice system of the United States is the best system in the world. In our system, the two sides are entitled to come into the courtroom, presided over by an impartial judge, to present their positions to a jury of citizens. Citizens ultimately make the determination on the evidence, decide whether to convict or acquit. We may not always agree with the decision, but we always respect the process. In voicing his displeasure with the result, Pres. Obama has interfered with this process, and insulted the group of citizens who so graciously gave their time to listen to all the evidence, and make the decision. As a former lawyer, he should well know better.
Whether you agree or disagree with the verdict in the Zimmerman trial, you should respect the process. As with the lawyers on both sides of the case in post verdict press conferences, all expressed great respect for the role of the jury and the justice system. Too bad that our President, who certainly knows far less about the facts of the case then the legal teams, could not do the same.
