Wednesday may see a verdict in the Rittenhouse case. All eyes are on Kenosha. But the way the case has been handled by the prosecution brings up other issues.
Many conservatives have a crush on authority, on anything that sports a badge. And that is a good thing in numerous cases. But what if, as in the Rittenhouse case, a badge-sporting Assistant District Attorney ignores the law and courtroom procedure and tries to railroad an innocent kid into a death penalty conviction? That’s happening in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We pray for Kyle Rittenhouse and a not guilty verdict on all counts. Experienced prosecutors Brett Tolman and Kurt Altman bolster our case.
Tomorrow’s schedule is TBD. One thing is certain. When the #Rittenhouse verdict comes in… we livestream.
Say a prayer for the kid and the jury tonight. See you tomorrow. #LwC— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) November 16, 2021
Tolman and Altman: Thousands of cases a day go through our nation’s court systems, but most do not grab the headlines or scrutiny of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. The power and prejudice this prosecution is wielding should worry anyone who advocates for the fair administration of the rule of law.
As experienced prosecutors who have handled high-profile criminal cases and made difficult charging decisions, we leverage our decades of experience toward advancing reforms that translate to systemic support for the rule of law. We do not typically engage with the latest case the media has chosen to circus. The probing and insightful Twitter analysis is best left to the great and renowned legal minds of our generation – LeBron James, Alyssa Milano and John Legend. Or better, the thoughts of tenured law professors in maze-like university buildings who pontificate courtroom knowledge from the safety of a quiet corner office. The Rittenhouse case is different.
Like much of America, over the last couple days we have watched the Rittenhouse prosecutor exhibit the attitude that rules and the judge’s rulings don’t matter. Rather than apply the law to the facts, the prosecutor has exercised discretion so as to reflect his own self-righteousness, so the ends justify the means. The judge in this case has been criticized by the left and the media for the audacity of not rolling over. Instead, he has fiercely guarded the integrity of the proceedings, the rights of the defendant, and regularly checked the unabashed overreach by the prosecution.
For this reason, the Rittenhouse case is a cautionary tale for conservative legislatures, where debates are waged around whether to infuse prosecutors with more power over the outcome of a criminal case, while reducing the influence of the judge. Proponents call it truth in sentencing. The result is the tipping of the state’s criminal justice balance of power in favor of prosecutors, who, let’s not forget, are partial actors in this system.
What is happening in Kenosha should give lawmakers pause before choosing this course. The evidence presented in the case by both the prosecution and the defense clearly supports Kyle Rittenhouse’s contention that he acted in self-defense as he attempted to guard property threatened by rioters. The Rittenhouse case has put Americans on notice of some very dangerous ways in which the scales of justice can be perverted. Prosecutors with agendas and woke activists will sacrifice justice to serve their own ends.
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To me, they would go for a hung verdict (a verdict that is not unanimous) because of the blackmail of the left that they would riot and also dox the jury if they ever give an innocent verdict. Btw, IMHO only…
Evidence withheld by the prosecution AND the FBI in the Kyle Rittenhouse case,proves he is innocent.If he is convicted,personal self defense will become a crime.If it does,those of us who protect ourselves against attacks as Kyle did will be scr**ed.We are entering a dangerous upside down tyrannical rule world if Kyle is convicted.
David, prescient grasp of what happens when a prosecutor becomes a de facto judge in the workings of a legal “system.” Judges, themselves, are already tainted with political stain. To invest more power in a prosecutor can only further exacerbate a legal process that has become political theatre.
After the cons the prosecutor tried to play, I certainly hope so. Hope he sues them all too, Malicious prosecution isn’t something that should be allowed to fester and corrupt the justice system any more than it already has.
Rerun 2020 riots again??