Legal to murder a prostitute for non-compliance in the US?

[HoreTore]

But, it also leaves the door open for another kind of tyranny - tyranny of the majority. If the majority have a very low opinion of you, like in this case a prostitute, you may find that you're not equal before the law...

Indeed.

I trust the judgement of the trained professional over the village idiot any day of the week.

As for "defense against tyranny": if the judges are corrupted we're so far into fascism we're screwed anyway. So that's a moot point.

[Vuk]

But, it also leaves the door open for another kind of tyranny - tyranny of the majority. If the majority have a very low opinion of you, like in this case a prostitute, you may find that you're not equal before the law...

It has its problems, true, but it is essential in a free society. The problems that the system of trial by jury bring do not outway the threat of government tyranny.

Indeed.

I trust the judgement of the trained professional over the village idiot any day of the week.

As for "defense against tyranny": if the judges are corrupted we're so far into fascism we're screwed anyway. So that's a moot point.

Those lawyers, judges, and trained professionals are usually more corrupt and dishonest than the average person. There has always been problems in this country with corrupt judges, and is a far greater problem then what we have with juries. All a dictator or a group of people have to do to make the court a weapon is bribe or threaten a relatively small amount of people if judges determined people's innocence. That is not possible with juries.

[HoreTore]

Those lawyers, judges, and trained professionals are usually more corrupt and dishonest than the average person. There has always been problems in this country with corrupt judges, and is a far greater problem then what we have with juries. All a dictator or a group of people have to do to make the court a weapon is bribe or threaten a relatively small amount of people if judges determined people's innocence. That is not possible with juries.

....And my argument is that if ever arrive at that stage, we're already doomed and thus the juries won't save us.

If Germany had the US' jury system in 1932, it would have made as much difference as holding up a napkin to stop a bullet.

[Vuk]

....And my argument is that if ever arrive at that stage, we're already doomed and thus the juries won't save us.

If Germany had the US' jury system in 1932, it would have made as much difference as holding up a napkin to stop a bullet.

It is one of the reasons we are not in the situation Germany was in 1932.

[HoreTore]

It is one of the reasons we are not in the situation Germany was in 1932.

I don't see how that statement is anything other than wishful thinking based on nothing.

Are you suggesting that german judges helped Hitler's rise to power?

[Vuk]

I don't see how that statement is anything other than wishful thinking based on nothing.

Are you suggesting that german judges helped Hitler's rise to power?

No, but I am suggesting that control of the judicial system could very easily help a dictator rise to such power here in the US.

[HoreTore]

No, but I am suggesting that control of the judicial system could very easily help a dictator rise to such power here in the US.

....And my argument is that if we've progressed so far that a would-be tyrant is able to control the judges, we're screwed anyway. If he's able to do that, he's able to do a whole number of other nasty things we won't be able stop.

Conclusion: the jury system isn't a safeguard against tyranny, and should thus be judged solely on its ability to serve justice.