None of
them were asked to explain their thinking or to justify their decision. They simply stated that they were unanimous
and quietly filed out of the courtroom and went their separate ways.
It was,
of course, years later when the truth came out about juror #8. By
then it was all too late. Things had
been done based upon the verdict. Lives had been changed, one life ended and
society as a whole took a step backward.
The system was indeed flawed and a great change would be made.
The
Governor and his cohorts were indicted along with juror #8. The city stayed on the front page for longer
than was comfortable. The Feds would be
taking a long look at the system and soliciting outside opinions from law
professors as to possible changes. Myron Goldstein would head the
taskforce. A panel of 500 citizens, 10
from every state would be allowed to view all meetings on a designated
television channel. The 500 had been selected
from a National lottery to ensure randomness.
Their access code to this channel was controlled and monitored 24 hours
a day. The President and Congress would be in on the final decision. The decision as to how the new Constitution
of the United States
would be written. But even their final vote had to have the majority support
from the 500 to pass it into law.
The
Goldstein’s, their friends and extended family had been assigned guards
24/7. Each and every college professor
chosen for the task was assigned personal bodyguards and was under constant
surveillance. Nothing was left to chance.
Independent
agencies were hired to monitor the overall operation and no agency was informed
about the other or how many total agencies were involved. Checks and balances were in place and even
those were being monitored.
Of the
people, by the people and for the people would no longer be an empty
slogan. Americans First was the
new battle cry and Washington
D.C. would never again be the
same.
This was a story idea I started several years ago.
I've never done anything with it but I have set it here
to remind me to get back to it some day.
zc