Terry Schiavo fiasco

[Dark Jaguar]

Here's something... There are a few people who are convicted wrongly. Why is that happening? The death penalty people aside, the question comes up how are innocent people getting convicted? There is supposed to be a presumption of innosence and the evidence must be shown for guilt, beyond resonable doubt. Basically, only when evidence is shown that makes it illogical to say they are innocent shows up does one get convicted.

Somewhere along the lines, I think the reign of science in the courts gave way to "fancy lawyer talk", and also silly people in positions they shouldn't be in.

For example, if in a trial sueing a "psychic" for swindling money from lots of people, a judge states "now it is this court's judgement that psychic powers DO in fact exist for the purposes of this case, so I forbid any arguments trying to prove that psychic abilities don't exist", then logic has failed in favor of silliness. The judge in such a case has already pretty much defeated the prosecution before the trial even began. All the prosecution can do is argue that THAT person doesn't have psychic abilities, and it's hard to do that accuratly under such conditions.

I say science really needs a much higher role in the processes of government. I'm not suggesting some "ivory tower of wizards" saying what should and shouldn't be. I'm suggesting that logic should prevail and that the scientific method should be one of the guiding factors in any policy making.
As for the death penalty, I say we should put on hold whether it's right or wrong for the guilty until we can reduce the odds of innocent convictions to being totally improbable. You know, I'd rather 1000 guilty go free than... chase after them... not sure how that goes but anyway I'm sure you get my pont.