A lawyer on Fox News while waiting for the Casey Anthony verdict came clean. He said, “This is not about justice, but winning.†It was shocking to hear something said that plainly even though the truth of his statement I have often assumed. The question is always asked, “Who won, the prosecution or the defense?†Who cares? Our only care should be whether justice was served. Were the guilty convicted and the innocent exonerated?
Our so called justice system is no longer about justice. It is about lawyer skill and passion. It is about money and fame. It is about public spectacle. And yes, all of these things have long been a part of the system, but now they are the system, especially of any case that captures the public’s attention. Our laws have been so convoluted that justice is a second thought to legal wrangling. And this we should mourn.
Let me put it this way. Any defense lawyer who knowingly defends a guilty person is sinning and impenitently so. Defense lawyers should only defend those who confess and they believe to be innocent, wrongly accused. To do otherwise is not justice. Likewise a prosecutor who charges anyone they do not believe to be guilty is sinning.
Our court systems are not to be about personalities. They are not to be about debating prowess. They are not to be about winning. It is to be about justice alone.
So Casey was found innocent. Why? Because the defense won? Because the prosecution failed? Or because justice was done? Who knows. Does anyone even care? I do because God does.
A few verses:
Exodus 23:6-7 "You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked.
Deuteronomy 16:20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Proverbs 18:5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.
Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Collect:
Almighty God, grant integrity and well-being to all who are in authority in our nation. Grant them grace and wisdom to rule according to Your good pleasure, to the maintenance of justice and to the hindrance and punishment of wickedness, that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
