Justice is Blindfolded

Once upon a time when God was a lot younger, I divorced the father of my children.

Never having been in court before, I was sure that it was just this side of church and felt that whatever happened would be fair and just.

I was right. The Judge listened to this and to that and then in his wisdom announced that I would need child support to take care of my three children. Now I could see why people hold the justice system up so high and almost revere it. This Judge was indeed a very wise man.

Three months went by and I was expecting some financial help, based on what I had heard in court. Nothing arrived but I continued to do my best to make sure that my children were cared for.

Finally I decided to write to the Judge, this very wise man. I told him that on such and such a date he had given a decision that said I was to receive some financial help with the children. I told him that to date, I had received nothing.

I got a letter from the Judge which stated that "It is the duty of the court…." It was right out of some rule book, perhaps Robert's Rules of Order or the Masonic Order, I wasn't sure but basically the bottom line was that, should I be unhappy with the judgment I should come back into court.

I studied that letter for a long time. What was he really telling me? He really was saying that he had no power to enforce his proclamations. His only power was to tell people to sit down or stand up or pound that gavel for one reason or another. He was not a very powerful person. He wasn't even very wise.

After studying the letter, I made a proclamation myself. Mine was based on being practical and I think I was a bit wiser than the Judge. I decided at that time that the legal system is not based on wisdom but the whim of the people playing that game.

The proclamation that was made that day was not to go back to court but to use the money that I would have used to get another worthless judgment; to pay the dentist, to buy shoes. With kids there is always something and the legal system is based on rules in some book but not on life.

To this day I have seen a lot of very unwise things that are done in the name of Justice. I truly understand why she is blindfolded. I would not want to see what was happening in my name either if this is the way it goes.

Were I to be chosen to be on a jury today, no matter what the person had done, I would vote not guilty. Why don't we vote innocent, why is it not guilty. Perhaps there is no innocence in a court room? I have listened to some things in court and the jury is asked to make a judgment based on less information than I would need to give one of my children permission to go somewhere.

My sister told me about the juries that she has been on and how they always make her cry because she says, "We are deciding a man's life." And they tell her that if she goes along with them, they can go home that day. Then I hear, it is the best system. Is it? When only 2% of the people can get heard on appeal just because some people wanted to go home early.

Wisdom has left the building, Justice close your eyes.