Justice for the Rich, Justice for the Poor

A Stodghill Says So blog:
If there ever was any doubt that there are two kinds of justice in this country, one for the rich and one for the rest of us, it was removed today when that judge in New York ruled Bernard Madoff could go on living in his penthouse rather than heading off to jail.
This guy worked the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, bilking people who wanted something for nothing out of $50 billion or thereabouts. That makes him the biggest con man in history.
Closer to home, a 17-year-old was arrested for selling a pound of marijuana. He stayed in jail until convicted at his trial and then was immediately carted off to prison.
Another fellow, this one 15, broke into a home and stole a few things. He got 15 years. No delays, just a quick trip to the pen.
So are these two ghetto residents worse than Madoff, who made off with that $50 billion? Apparently so under the American system of justice.
Having spent a number of years covering the criminal courts, I had no illusions that one form of justice fits all. The Madoff case, however, is a blatant and striking example of the rich being immune to justice as it applies to the rest of us. Don't make the mistake of believing it isn't that way, that justice truly is blind.
In a song about the outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd, Woody Guthrie wrote this line: "Some men will rob you with a six-gun, some with a fountain pen."
When those two young fellows get out of prison - a real prison and not the country-club variety Madoff will go to if ever convicted - they now should know that the next time they had better use a fountain pen, or even a ballpoint. It's the American way.

Didn't see Ann's post until after I wrote this.

We'll forgive you.

No they aren't and people in the justice system mostly don't try to pretend any different. It's kind of like calling prisons Reformatories and Penetenciaries. Old-fashioned euphemisms.

As William Burroughs put it: "Be fair. If you can't be fair, be arbitrary."

While riding the elevator up to the floor where the courtrooms were located, someone said, "I just hope we get justice."
A wise lawyer said, "Don't hope for justice, hope for mercy."

Reminds me of the time I was riding in a courthouse elevator with my Uncle Feagin, who was acting as my attorney. My ex was trying to get child support reduced. I said to my uncle, "I wonder if the judge remembers the time I slammed a car door on his finger." Feagin replied, "Watch his face when you raise your hand to swear in. If he flinches, we're in trouble." He didn't flinch. We won the case.

A night or so later, my mother ran into the judge at a party. He was talking to my ex's attorney. My mom told them the elevator story. The judge finished it for her: "...on my finger! It turned so blue I lost a nail..." My ex's attorney just shook his head and walked away with a wry grin.

Ann