In an Opinion addressing an earlier piece by William B. King, George Roof wrote: “As I’m sure we attended grade school during similar times, I learned that ‘convicted’ meant that a judge has passed final judgment to a crime. In this particular case, for a crime that was never specifically charged, a jury found (Donald Trump) guilty. But a guilty verdict is not a conviction in legal vernacular. A person is only ‘convicted’ after all due processes have been completed” (“Diplomatic voting process isn’t shameful”).
Mr. Roof’s definition of “convicted” is at odds with the legal definition of “convicted.” These and other legal organizations disagree with his “legal opinion”:
From the Legal Information institute — A conviction is an adjudication of a criminal defendant’s guilt; specifically, it is the act or judicial process of finding a criminal defendant guilty of a charged offense.
From thelawdictionary.org — In a general sense, the result of a criminal trial that ends in a judgment or sentence that the prisoner is guilty as charged; finding a person guilty by verdict of a jury.
Since Mr. Roof didn’t like the legal verdict, he denies the results, and to justify his denial, he refers to the judge as a “radical.” Perhaps this case will be decided by the Trump-supporting Supreme Court, but Trump is a “convicted” felon, as decided by a jury of his peers.
Steve Caporiccio
Magnolia
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
