Today I’m working on a project that really doesn’t have a deadline. My background noise is the Zimmerman trial and I simply hit the mute button before answering calls. There has been much debate over cameras in the courtroom and I’m surely no expert insofar as our rights as Americans to access and attend trials or how it might influence a defendant’s right to receive a fair trial. What I do know is this: while watching these live trials, I wonder what I might be subjected to just by trying to help someone in need. I’ll bet that there are many, many others that feel as I do. And that’s pretty scary considering at some point, WE may be the one calling for help.
Listening to this middle-aged woman be cross examined simply because she called 911 and told the operator exactly what she saw makes my stomach churn. I ‘get it’ that a defense attorney has a job to do and that job is to discredit this ordinary person’s testimony if it hurts their client. But it brings back a pretty horrible memory from a time when I had to give a deposition.
Even though I would absolutely tell the truth in any proceeding, if my testimony would have anything to do with directions or a sequence of events, I could be made to look like a big fat liar because on those particular things I could be manipulated and confused easily. While I would make a 911 call — I would be extremely nervous to provide testimony afterward… especially if it depended upon directions (N S W E?) or a time sequence (did you do this after that?) unless I had documented details.
If you’re just an innocent bystander wanting to do the right thing — and you’ve watched a trial on TV and have seen first-hand what you might be subjected to — do you still get involved? I sure hope you would. I know that I would make that 911 call instinctively. Even if I would regret it later. Still, it sure doesn’t seem fair when good deeds are punished.
And now, I’m going to change gears and move on to happier thoughts. 🙂
