It's a series of dismissals

[Neil]

I am less than shocked to discover that the whole thing was a Democrat smear campaign.

It's an odd sort of Democratic smear campaign - involving a prosecution brought under the GOP administration and repudiated by the new Democratic AG.

Clearly the old, Republican AG was bribed by Democrats.  As for the new guy, maybe he has some integrity.  I know that'd be shocking, for a member of the party of Obama to have even a little bit of honour, but it's not impossible.

[Barrister]

Okay, I have to say it:

-just because there were mistakes made by the prosecution does not mean that Stevens is innocent.

[Neil]

Okay, I have to say it:

-just because there were mistakes made by the prosecution does not mean that Stevens is innocent.

Unfortunately, that's the system that lawyers have made for us.  If you help me turn over the rule of law, we can make things right.

[katmai]

Okay, I have to say it:

-just because there were mistakes made by the prosecution does not mean that Stevens is innocent.

But boy what a fuck up the way the Feds handled this case.

[DontSayBanana]

Okay, I have to say it:

-just because there were mistakes made by the prosecution does not mean that Stevens is innocent.

Actually, according to US legal principles, that could be the case. Innocent until proven guilty, so if the prosecution makes a mistake in the process of proving he's guilty, then he's assumed innocent and generally covered under double jeopardy protections.

See: OJ Simpson, 1995.

[Barrister]

The presumption of innocence is a legal principle that applies in a court of law - its not a principle that can (or should) apply in the wider world.

And double jeopardy only applies if he's been aquitted at trial.  Stevens was convicted.

[DontSayBanana]

The presumption of innocence is a legal principle that applies in a court of law - its not a principle that can (or should) apply in the wider world.

And double jeopardy only applies if he's been aquitted at trial.  Stevens was convicted.

Fair enough. In that case, it's an appeals question, and an appeal to overturn can be responded to in kind.

[Razgovory]

Okay, I have to say it:

-just because there were mistakes made by the prosecution does not mean that Stevens is innocent.

I thought you'd be more supportive of your fellow ice-dweller.  Look at Neil.  He supports his fellow eskimo.

[DontSayBanana]

I thought you'd be more supportive of your fellow ice-dweller.  Look at Neil.  He supports his fellow eskimo.

...provided said Eskimo is not too dark.

[jimmy olsen]

Okay, I have to say it:

-just because there were mistakes made by the prosecution does not mean that Stevens is innocent.

Except of course when the prosecution fabricates evidence of guilt and withholds evidence of innocence as is now alleged.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/us/politics/08stevens.html

[Barrister]

Okay, I have to say it:

-just because there were mistakes made by the prosecution does not mean that Stevens is innocent.

I thought you'd be more supportive of your fellow ice-dweller.  Look at Neil.  He supports his fellow eskimo.

I thought I was being supportive of my fellow ice-dwelling prosecutors.   

[Razgovory]

Okay, I have to say it:

-just because there were mistakes made by the prosecution does not mean that Stevens is innocent.

Except of course when the prosecution fabricates evidence of guilt and withholds evidence of innocence as is now alleged.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/us/politics/08stevens.html

It's NYT.  They are probably just saying this to defend the their fellow Dem.  The AG in Alaska.

[katmai]

Okay, I have to say it:

-just because there were mistakes made by the prosecution does not mean that Stevens is innocent.

I thought you'd be more supportive of your fellow ice-dweller.  Look at Neil.  He supports his fellow eskimo.

I thought I was being supportive of my fellow ice-dwelling prosecutors.   

Uh they were D.C. based to my knowledge.