Pubdate: Sat, 03 Jun 2017
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Copyright: 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487
Author: Bob McBride
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v17/n180/a09.html
Note: Headline by newshawk

THE ACCUSED DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE RISK

The fear conjured up by MMS is a prime motivator in the accused
accepting a plea bargain. Even with a person who believes he is
innocent, the downside is too great. There is something not right
about destroying accepted historical precedent of the evaluation by a
judge and jury, who have heard all the evidence and witnessed the
character, arguments and demeanor of the prosecution and the accused,
in favor of the wisdom of remote legislators stroked by the DAs
looking for a bailout for their inability to earn a conviction on the
merits.

Mandatory minimums make the constitutional right to a trial by jury an 
anachronism and a cruel joke. The right to trial is dependent on the 
accused accepting the condition of MMS, but it's either accept this 
condition or plea bargain. A constitutional right could not be
subject to a conditional requirement except by amendment.

Bob Mc Bride

Evergreen, Colo.
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MAP posted-by: Matt