Some Quotes (and Thoughts) Following the Acquittal of Kevin Spacey

"Truth, like art, is in the eye of the beholder.” — Kevin Spacey as Jim Williams in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

“I come from the liberal side of thinking: Better one guilty man should walk free than one innocent man found guilty.” — Ian McShane, actor

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“I think most defense attorneys honestly believe the principle that says, 'Better 10 guilty go free than even one possibly innocent person be convicted.'” — Alan Dershowitz, attorney

Actor Kevin Spacey has been acquitted on charges related to sexual assault allegations against the actor (https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/actor-kevin-spacey-acquitted-all-nine-sexual-offenses-). Acquitted on nine charges, I sincerely hope that the verdict was correct and that justice was upheld. I can only imagine just how shattering it would be to publicly admit that I had been raped and/or sexually assaulted only to see the perpetrator acquitted. Likewise, I similarly can imagine the horror of being accused, charged, and convicted of such a vile crime when I was an innocent man. Being recognized as innocent until proven guilty is at the bedrock of our criminal justice system.

I don’t know what actually happened, any more than anyone else does outside of the accused and the accusers. But with all the hate and vitriol directed at Kyle Rittenhouse that followed his acquittal for shooting three of his four assailants, I have come to realize that justice is not the primary concern for some people. Some people are clearly motivated by something other than the pursuit of justice. Frankly, that should be terrifying for any innocent person charged with a crime that is being faced with the prospect of a trial by a jury of one's peers.

In the summer of 1997, I was called for jury duty. I was interviewed in the court for possible placement as an alternate juror in a potential death penalty case regarding a kidnapping that went horribly wrong. Thankfully, the prosecution team saw fit to reject me. I had no conscious bias against the defendant and I believe that I could have been fair and objective. Yet, I sleep better at night (or during the day) knowing that I didn't have to reach a decision as to the defendant's guilt or innocence. It is my understanding that he was ultimately convicted and given the death penalty, although I don't believe that the sentence has yet been carried out by the State of North Carolina.

Mr. Spacey is clearly a talented and accomplished actor. I know that being accused of a crime and going through the trial process is very stressful. It is not unusual for a defendant's health to deteriorate during or following a trial. This is doubtless a particularly sad occurrence for an innocent person accused of a serious crime.

I may soon get around to rewatching Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I really enjoyed the performances in that movie, including Mr. Spacey's performance (although I have read that his portrayal of Jim Williams was not a good one according to the author of the book of the same title, John Berendt). The movie doesn't accurately reflect the historical reality, as Mr. Williams was tried four times, not just once for the killing of Danny Hansford, the character upon whom Jude Law's Billy Hanson is based. A handful of people play themselves in the film and one of Williams' attorneys, Sonny Seiler, plays the role of the judge. Considering the UK verdict and the way that the trial ends in the movie, it should make watching the movie again very interesting and thought-provoking.