The reality, though, is that what we learn about the law through celebrities is not necessarily representative of the law. Sometimes, this is because the celebrity encounters with the legal system are simply not representative. For example, unlike Paris Hilton, the average defendant would receive neither a 45-day jail sentence for a minor driving probation violation (too harsh), nor an early release for ill-defined medical reasons (too lenient). Nor, of course, can the average defendant afford to pay for the A-Game of the talented defense counsel to which viewers of celebrity trials have become accustomed.
This from a column by a couple law professors on celebrity justice. It is unclear to me what they mean by "minor driving probation violation." I was on this hobbyhorse before, but what does "minor" mean? Let us put aside the aggravating court behavior (showing up late to court, showing no remorse or sense of real responsibility -- blaming others for the wrongdoing, etc.) which tends to add to punishment in various cases. The "minor" violation, to probation arising from driving in a reckless under the influence was basically doing the exact same thing ... after being given a warning once before. A repeat "minor" violation, this time without an authorized license. Given the crime how "minor" is this? It is like calling a second marijuana possession "minor" when the crime was possession with the intent to sell. Less dangerous than driving, I say.
[BTW, she would not serve 45 days. The likely result would be about half that. The reader might be assumed to factor that in, but if the stay was twenty-three days, would it be too harsh? For a double violation, driving without a license, the assumption being it is not really safe to trust you to drive?]
To segue, how about Michael Vick?! It is unbelievable that he left himself open to not only losing a job of an overly paid QB on a playoff caliber team ... a ten year contract at that ... but to jail time. In fact, his position was so lousy, commentators were amazed at the low bargaining position Vick found himself in. Many think he might get more -- even after pleading guilty -- than is recommended by the prosecutor. And, this does not even go into the quite likely possibility of state prosecution(s) [more than one state is potentially at stake here].
We are not talking something people can basically sorta forgive ... some sort of drug possession or prostitution deal that even conservative congressmen from Louisiana apparently can handle with ease. No, we are dealing with something an average fan would likely speak with only disgust. What is more precious than a man's connection to a dog, after all? We have hunters, who tend to (somewhat selectively) respect certain animals, call into radio talk shows with such disgust. Betting on football where man abuses man. Fine. Dog fight dog? No.
Get Fuzzy had an amusing story arc last week in which the main guy is upset that so many things have animal products in them, often hidden. I can relate -- canned vegetable soup is of particular annoyance.* Bucky noted he was against ethics on principle. Too tedious. But, there are different degrees of wrong. We are not angels. Being mean to your brother does not mean the same thing as hitting him with a board. Thus, we have cruelty to animal laws, and in particular making cruelty not only a personal wrong (beating one's own dog), but a sport.
In the process, the individual wrongs can send a broader message. Look out for a few more prosecutions against this sort of thing ... as one commentator noted on the radio (being sure to note he wasn't for it particularly) some might limited resources to go to something like this rather than targeting illegal use of marijuana. Likewise, some even note that we should be more evenhanded in our concern about animal abuse. Don't worry. There are enough examples out there that we needn't go into vegetarianism again.
And, a shout out to a new cat ... times two ... owner. Enjoy your new cats sis, and good thing that you got them from a shelter. It is absurd that one gets cats and dogs, except in special cases (support dogs etc.), any other way. Shelters are full with abandoned and abused animals.
This sort of thing makes one almost wistful for steroid abuse stories.
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* The items are in no way necessary for the products. In fact, sometimes meat alternatives are used in processed foods as extenders. A meat or chicken subsistute might be a mixed success in some cases, such as a chik patty, but as an item added for taste, substitution is fine. Likewise, milk and eggs are quite often more there for binding purposes than anything else. Quiche might be eggy, but your average cake need not be.