The
American legal system has many good points. Cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited by the
Constitution, and one has a right to a trial by one's peers, for example. Additionally, both the
prosecution and the defense have access to lawyers, who must argue their case in front of an
impartial judge. One is found innocent until proven guilty. Jurors are to be impartial, and they
are carefully screened during jury selection. While it is nearly impossible to have true
impartiality in a case, lawyers' questioning can ensure that the jury has not made up its mind
before the presentation of evidence. There are laws stating that one cannot be tried twice for
the same crime and laws against self-incrimination.
There are many flaws in
the system as well. The system seems to be stacked against minority defendantsjurors can be
biased by their preconceived notions of minorities. Rich people can afford better lawyers than
the poor, who often have to rely on public defenders. Public defenders...
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