Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

Paralegal Realizes, "Dad was Right"

By ParalegalGateway.com

There is no other country on Earth that gives this much opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As a recently retired, 20-year Army veteran and paralegal, I have seen old Lady Justice sweat a few times. Throughout American history, we have seen wrongful convictions of the innocent, considered less than the ideal of society, judged by a jury of their foes. Yet all we have is hope and faith in the scales of justice where purity is supposed to reign and unfairness abolished.

However, what happens to a nation when corruption and politics taints the law? What is in store for us common folk when a true servant of our state and country such as Sen. Ted Stevens is unfairly convicted? His trial reminded me of the trials of many black Americans in the South where the rigged trial was just a block to be checked before sentencing.

I spoke to my father who has lived in Alaska since 1954 and personally knows Sen. Stevens. I vehemently tried to convince him that the legal system works and that Sen. Stevens must be guilty. He stood by what most young people have long lost: Trust in the man he had known for years and old-fashioned gut feelings. Well, Dad was right. I was wrong.

I have a lot of respect for Sen. Mark Begich. However, I voted for him based upon a wrongful conviction from a flawed legal system.

Sen. Stevens has been a beacon for our state and for this great country. Like many who have spent time in prison or have paid the ultimate sacrifice only to have their convictions overturned, he has become a victim whose job has been snatched away. Sen. Stevens has lost so much this nation?s system cannot restore, but the one thing that has been restored is his good name. However hollow it might sound now, we offer a sincere apology. We thank Sen. Stevens for his selfless service, loyalty and dedication to this state.

One man?s opinion.

Source: Newsminer.com

Full post as published by ParalegalGateway Blawg on April 21, 2009 (boomark / email).