The rule of law applies to everyone, without exception.
The American justice system is built on a promise, a promise that has faced its fair share of challenges under the leadership of former President Donald Trump.
Trump is currently dealing with numerous criminal charges pertaining to election interference and business dealings.
In a predictable fashion, after news about Trump comes a barrage of noise from the man himself. He directs insults towards judges, prosecutors, investigators, and their agencies, engaging in a crude and unprecedented manner to fuel the anger of his already disgruntled base of supporters.
Insulting or threatening the criminal justice system would not assist us in our defense if we were to face criminal charges.
Trump isn’t entirely wrong
Trump claims to be a victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by Democrats and his adversaries. He compares his suffering to that of Alexei Navalny, Jesus, and Black people.
The claim is absolutely absurd.
However, he is not completely incorrect. There are instances where the legal system can be unfair. However, it does not align with Trump’s claims, and it does not specifically target individuals like Trump and those similar to him.
Consider the fact that Trump has invested and will continue to invest a substantial amount, approximately $50 million, to secure the best defense available to him. This starkly highlights the significant contrast between Trump and those who are facing legal challenges and are compelled to accept whatever outcome the justice system imposes upon them.
Money and influence have the power to disrupt, compromise, or completely derail the usual lawful process.
Americans facing criminal charges often find themselves at a disadvantage without financial resources or connections. In this game of justice, they are entering a meat grinder, typically represented by inexperienced court-appointed lawyers who lack the means to mount a strong defense.
Numerous instances provide substantial evidence that, more frequently than we realize, individuals who are genuinely innocent have been unjustly incarcerated for crimes they did not commit, and this is not always due to political reasons.
According to the National Registry of Exonerations, nearly 3,500 Americans have been exonerated since 1989. These individuals served a total of more than 31,000 years for crimes they did not commit. These staggering numbers clearly highlight the urgent need for reform in our broken criminal justice system.
To truly grasp the extent of legal persecution, we need to examine the experiences of individuals from underprivileged backgrounds in Michigan, such as Temujin Kensu, previously known as Fredrick Freeman, and Ray Gray, a native of Detroit.
Estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people wrongfully imprisoned
Kensu and Gray are two individuals who, like an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 others, are serving long prison sentences in the United States for crimes that they likely did not commit. According to the Innocence Project, a significant portion of the nation’s prison population, around 4% to 6%, is actually innocent.
Multiple witnesses attested to Kensu’s alibi, stating that he was located hundreds of miles away from the crime scene at the time of the murder. Despite this compelling evidence, the jury convicted him based on a theory presented by prosecutor Robert Cleland. This theory, lacking any supporting evidence, suggested that Kensu, a man with limited financial means, a pregnant girlfriend, no employment, and reliant on food stamps, somehow managed to charter a plane, travel 450 miles to commit the murder, and return without detection.
When Kensu successfully argued in federal court that the mistakes and harmful actions of the prosecutor, his drug-addicted lawyer, and corrupt police officers warranted his release or a new trial, the appeals court disregarded Judge Denise Page Hood’s ruling. The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 imposed a time limit on his claim of innocence.
Kensu, who is now 60 years old, continues to languish in prison, grappling with poor health and struggling to secure a commutation of his sentence from the governor.
Released after 48 years in state prison
Raymond Gray was sentenced to over 48 years in state prison for the robbery and murder of a drug dealer. He was convicted in a bench trial based on witness testimony, despite his family and one of the robbery suspects testifying that Gray was at home during the crime. During that time, he was actually styling the hair of one of his barber customers.
Gray was the only one charged and convicted despite police reports of two male perpetrators, one of whom was armed with a pistol during the robbery. The judge chose not to believe the testimony of Gray’s relatives.
The Wayne County prosecutor’s office agreed to release Gray on the condition that he plead guilty to some aspect of the crime.
Wrongfully convicted deserve protection and help
The justice system’s shortcomings have resulted in numerous wrongful convictions, causing immense suffering to innocent individuals and their families. Over the years, these victims have been awarded billions of dollars in compensation through court judgments or state-mandated payouts. It is sobering to consider the potential cost to communities if the nation were to fully acknowledge and provide damages to all the victims affected by these injustices.
Many people are left wondering why the Constitution failed to fulfill its promise to them due to the unjust actions in the criminal justice system.
Perhaps it is time for us to reflect on the true injustice within our criminal justice system, especially when confronted with the baseless allegations made by Trump. We must recognize the pressing need for reforms and enhancements to ensure the well-being of ordinary individuals who lack wealth and fame, safeguarding them from undeserved punishment.
