The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial for people accused of crimes. But a group of legal and civil liberties advocates wants to focus on how a "trial penalty" leads to the virtual extinction of fair criminal trials. ⚖️ About 98% of cases in the federal system end in plea deals. Big states see similar numbers. ⚖️ Those who choose not to take a plea deal, like Robert Rose, could spend more time in prison if convicted. He feels his 25 years to life sentence was a punishment for not pleading out. ⚖️ Martin Sabelli, the former president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, says this system is most harsh on Black, brown and low-income people. ⚖️ Change needs to happen state by state, as most criminal cases are brought in at the state or local level. |
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