Counterpoint: Takeaways from the Rittenhouse trial

The Kenosha trial has had lessons for many, in several areas.

Some examples:

Prosecutors should not file charges before investigations are completed. Waiting to convene a grand jury can prevent overcharging and becoming committed to an unwinnable case.

Ignoring a judge’s prior evidence rulings and asking clearly prohibited questions irritates the jurist and is likely to produce a strong rebuke and/or a basis for a mistrial.

Politicians should limit remarks about pending cases to statements encouraging citizens to respect the system and outcomes. It is not helpful to have the leader of the free world refer to a defendant as a “White supremacist” or declare that he is angered by a decision.

Those who rely on cable “news” for information are doomed to be misinformed. I saw polls indicating that some thought the defendant was racist.

Mobs should not be permitted to gather outside courthouses during trials. The Kenosha jurors could hear the bullhorn-equipped demonstrators during the trial and deliberations. Alternatively, they should be sequestered, not followed, photographed or efforts made to identify them.

It seems too many in the media are ready to take cheap shots at judges and/or trial counsel, often reflecting surprising ignorance. Facts count for little in many quarters.

Despite the pressures, the Kenosha jurors refused to be intimidated and unanimously rendered their best judgment. They showed remarkable courage.

The lack of respect for our judicial system (one of the best in the world) by so many people and institutions is alarming.

Ron Wohlust

Dagsboro