Caylee Birthday Present: A Justice System Broken?
CNN’s Art Harris on TALK BACK Live in ’95, before O. J. acquital
By Art Harris, The Bald Truth, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved
Imagine Caylee Anthony squeeling with delight, as she blows out six candles on a birthday cake—her own. That’s what might have been today, had she not been found dumped in a swamp near her home in Orlando, Florida.
With her mother acquitted on murder charges and now entertaining million dollar deals from the likes of Hustler magazine, her birthday is a reminder of raw wounds left by a shocking not guilty verdict and exposed a justice system that some critics say favors criminals — and killers.
I can only compare it to the gasps heard after O. J. Simpson was acquitted for a double murder linked by slam dunk DNA evidence in 1995, when I was investigating the case for CNN and breaking most of the network exclusives with a team of crack producers.
That verdict sparked outrage across the country among white viewers when a majority black jury cited reasonable doubt, exposing the country’s frightening racial divide not long after the Rodney King beating and riots in LA.
It was the culmination of a Dream Team drama that attacked prosecution witnesses, the cops and racial angst towards the LAPD, the FBI lab and the validity of forensic evidence, including DNA.
Johnny Cochran sidekick F. Lee Bailey once told me the strategy was “the three Cs: contamination, conspiracy and corruption,” and it worked. In jury selection, they chose African American women with sons or friends who had experienced rough treatment in police encounters; any juror with high school math or science was booted.
Ever since, lawyers like Jose Baez have used the O.J. playbook to sow the seeds of doubt among jurors, and once again, it worked.
Now, Caylee’s birthday.
It conjures killer flashbacks, rubbing salt in raw wounds of millions in mass mourning…and bitter about that verdict; the inevitable link to Simpson is often made, with experts debating whether the justice system is a bust and how to fix a jury system that allowed two presumably guilty people to walk.
In Casey’s case, the nature of outrage is shared by millions of mothers and grandmothers obsessed with her case, a communal anger that has spawned ugliness and death threats against the acquitted Tot Mom…
Such a lingering cloud of hatred raises serious questions about a new lynch mob mentality in America, especially among those who admit an unavenged horror and an unquenchable thirst for justice.
After all, they say, a two year old girl was found dumped in a swamp, with much evidence — but not enough to convince a jury — that pointed to Casey as the killer, a mother who lied repeatedly about what happened.
The case is still “a mess,” according to Judge Belvin Perry, who has yet to decide about whether she will have to serve probation in Florida, or at all, over her conviction for check fraud, perhaps fighting the urge to get even for prosecutors who lost the case. As you read this, a birthday event is happening in Orlando, a memorial march, with teary mourners taking bouquets and prayers to the swamp where she was dumped.
With storm clouds that won’t go away, The Bald Truth wants to know what elements you feel link the public trials of two centuries and lessons that could be used to improve the criminal justice system?
That was one question put to a panel of experts the day after O.J. Simpson was acquitted in 1995, including me, when CNN’S show, Talk Back Live, assembled a round table of post verdict experts to talk about crime victims’ anger and angst, including the parents of Nicole Brown Simpson who told me “they would just die” if the unthinkable happened–if O. J. were acquitted and they had to turn over their daughter’s children –their grandchildren–to a killer Dad.
As for the other victim’s family, the Goldmans were just plain uncomprehending that a man who had sliced and diced their son, could go free, especially when blood at the crime scene contained the victims—and Simpson’s—DNA…also found in blood in his white Bronco.
But like Anthony, the forensic evidence was not enough to win the jury.
Take a listen as yours truly, then a CNN Special Assignment correspondent (with big goofy glasses) who broke most of the network’s exclusives on the case with his team of crack producers, is joined by Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz, and top Atlanta criminal lawyers Mark Kadish and Ed Garland, to explore the aftermath of the trial of the last century and its implications.
If you were outraged then, please share if you got over it and how, and for those still upset about the Casey verdict, let us know how you are dealing with those feelings?
August 9th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
I keep Boycotting and contacting any place I hear is gonna give her money. I think the only justice Caylee will get is not letting that woman get rich off her daughters blood.
August 10th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
How well I remember the O.J. case.. I also remember how well you reported on the case, Art.. I wasn't as shocked by the OJ verdict as I was the Casey verdict…F. Lee and Johnny Cochran were going to win it at all costs from the beginning…even accusing Furman of planting the glove, and being a racist..Darden and Marcia, the proscecutors, seemed to have given up. It looked like Marcia was doodling love notes to Darden during the trial..The thug OJ walked. He is where he should be for the rest of his life..He will do more crime if he is let out…IMO Before football, he lived a life of crime, and continued afterwards..Casey, IMO, is guilty, but the Jury wasn't going to convict her because of her age and looks..Even one Juror said, "I didn't say she was innocent, I said it was not proven she is guilty"…In other words, we know she did it, but let's forget about reasonable doubt, and let her go…Both cases were horribly tried..Judge Ito acted like a fish out of water most of the time.. Time will tell if Judge Perry's future will end up like Judge Ito's… Judge who????
August 11th, 2011 at 1:27 am
Excellent comment, Marti…brings back memories of another jury gone wrong…lots more to tell.
August 11th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
As long as we have Attorneys questioning the pre-selected jurors, and eliminating those they think will be unfavorable to their client, and as long as we have predjudice in this country the jury system will remain a bust, as you put it.. I am not talking about predjudice in the singular of black and white.. There are many forms of predjudice..Science is so sophisticated now, it is harder, and/or easier to get convictions…In the positive sense, those who are wrongly convicted are set free with DNA/microcondial DNA etc.., but with skilled attorneys who want to win at all costs, regardless if their client is guilty, will find ways to sway the jury…So no, I don't see our judicial system improving.. We still highlight the pretty white girl, and neglect cases of blacks, and other races of Americans..When was the last time you saw an African American TV trial of a mother accused of killing her daughter? Doesn't America know this fuels the blacks into sometimes voting for a not guilty verdict…case in point, OJ…They knew OJ was guilty, but the jury said, "it's payback time" (my words)..Rarely will you find a predominately black jury convict a black man/woman.. It could be different, but we must change the mindset of "I am better because of the color of my skin" ..The blacks need to get over the slavery mentality..I can't find one reason Casey should have been given precedent over other poor Angelo or non-Angelo mothers..She was a poor, out of work, party girl…We sensationalize looks, sex, and rock 'n roll..I am a white, flower child of the sixties..I have seen a lot, and as much as I had hoped, I am not seeing an improvement in predjudice among our people. I actually see it getting worse…As long as there are greedy, dishonest attorneys, and Judges who are not secure enough in their position, and who themselves are swayed by the attorneys, corruption will prevail.. Honesty simply does not matter anymore, and that is a travesty… IMO
August 13th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
I think the judge and the prosecuters were so worried about a mistrial that is why they lost. She got off way to easy from start to finish, other than sitting in a jail cell she never paid for this crime. They should have made her work while she was there and i hope she had to pay back every penny of the time she spent in jail. Her mother is just as bad as casey is…no wonder this all happened the way it did.
August 14th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Art,
Hello. I have been following this case and the Haleigh Cummings case since their beginnings and it is hard to beleive that justice has not been served in either cases. I have a question for you. Who has possession of Caylee's remains ? I beleive that I remember that her remains were cremated and maybe that the Anthony's have them either at their home or at an undisclosed location. My fear is that Casey could petition the court for possession (it seems unlikely that she would ) and since she is the mother and not guilty of the charges that the courts would be obligated to do so, as terrible as it sounds.
Thank you for all you do,
Frank
September 10th, 2011 at 7:28 am
FRANK, we'll have to see if Baez helps her get her daughter's remains back…tx
August 15th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Just in Casey ANTHONY apparently got a 6 figure advance on a tell-all book!!!!!!
September 4th, 2011 at 9:04 am
I just wish that the prosecutors had SHOWN more anger, and disgust. They were far, far too bland. imo They didn't really get the jurors full attention. Baez was much more dramantic and kept the jurors watching his every move. That's what it takes with some jurors, and from what I have read, these were not the brightest 12 around. Now, we have a cold blooded baby killer walking free, and both she, her sleezy parents and Baez will make a fortune off of Caylee's murder. Geo. and Cindy are both driving new cars, and hitting every media source that will have them. Next up: Dr. Phil.
September 23rd, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Hey Art,
Just wrote a comment, well thought out, I think!!! Lost it trying to submit it.
Great article and comments. A thrill to read.
Can't re-write my comment now, this Canadian brain is weary.
Love ya
Take care, stay cool, and catch me on the flipper!!
SpikedLemon
September 23rd, 2011 at 1:24 pm
So sorry your comments got lost. Your insights are fabulous…so next time, first write and save in a word document, THEN copy and paste onto the comment box and if you lose it there, you will still have it. it has happened to me SO many times, I get a terrible sinking feeling, all the time and energy I wanted to share with you all from covering the system, then poof. Thanks for coming back, Spiked. Art approve