“When Is A Trial Not A Trial?”
A question: what happens at the beginning of a trial? The answer is simple: jury selection. Why? Because jurors decide cases, therefore special attention must be paid to whom the jurors will be. Consider, therefore, the so-called impeachment trial, how members of the Senate perform as jurors, or those who actually decide guilt or acquittal.
Before the trial formally began, a clever Republican, Senator Rand Paul, Kentucky threw a monkey wrench into the proceedings by submitting a motion challenging its very constitutionality. The motion drew 45 votes, the vast majority Republican, who voted overwhelmingly that the trial was unconstitutional.
Today the trial is in process, and who knows how it will end. I don’t. if I had to guess, I’d say it’ll end the same way that the first impeachment trial did: with acquittal, and that’s for political reasons. This is, after all, a political process. But I must add, I don’t know what will happen. No one does. We shall see.
From imprisoned nation, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
These commentaries are recorded by Noelle Hanrahan of Prison Radio.