more court room silliness

The other legal silliness I heard related to the case of the lacrosse players accused of rape.

I'm not taking a side in the case, my complaint had to do with the availability of efficient justice.

One of the players' attorneys made a motion for a fast trial and noted that the player wouldn't be able to go to school until the issue was resolved. The prosecution said it didn't plan to take the case to trial until next year.

I think the defense lawyer has a point -- justice should be available quickly. To draw it out when the added time is not needed makes justice itself oppressive.

It is hard to imagine in a case like this that it would really have to take a year to gather data and prepare.

While it is hanging unresolved, the lives of the accused as well as the accuser are left in limbo. The door is left open for muddying the water through media and PR (and this case has certainly had enough media already). There is an increased possibility for witnesses to disappear, be influenced or simply forget important details.

I don't see that justice is served at all when it is drawn out unnecessarily.

This doesn't mean that justice should turn into a rush to throw a rope over the nearest sturdy branch, but when such issues can be decided quickly, they should be.

Efficient, fair and swift justice serves both the victim and the accused by getting to a resolution instead of leaving their lives unresolved for years.

I think the only ones benefiting from such delays are, as usual, the lawyers.