Quote:
Originally Posted by RedskinRat
Eerily reminiscent of the OJ trial in its ineptitude. Real WTF moments. Nancy Grace is going to implode, so at least there's an upside.
|
In defense of prosecutors: This may be their biggest case of the year, it is certainly not their only one. If it's anything like Baltimore, these folks are vastly overworked.
It's not like on TV where you have nothing to do for three weeks and are spending night and day on this matter and have unlimited time to prep every witness to the nth degree. Even in the best of circumstances, putting on a trial is difficult work - so many variables. While the State has vast resources, it doesn't have vast resources to pinpoint on this one prosecution. The defense, on the other hand, can pretty much manipulate its case load to clear away substantial prep time and can focus all its financial reserves on this matter.
[I once went to observe one of the attorneys from my office at a trial. I walked in and, on one side of the room was one attorney, one paralegal, several notepads and 50 or so file boxes and manila folders in the benches behind her. On the other side were three attorneys, four paralegals, two law clerks, several laptops and a rolling bookcase of relevant caselaw and binders of clearly marked documents. Guess which side was the State?]
Generally, in run-of-the-mill cases, the prosecution gets a benefit from being the State and being able to call whatever crime scene investigators, DNA experts, accident reconstructionists, etc. at no particular expense b/c these folks work for the State. To oppose them, defendants usually have to spend big bucks to scrutinize all the evidence, chains of control, validity of methodology, etc.
With defendants who have a large war chest, this prosecutorial benefit goes to the wayside. In any real controversy, prosecutors have the much harder job. It's just a tough job and I don't envy them.
With that said, I just have a hard time understanding some of the prosecution's moves. They better have a brilliant closing planned.