worthy mention

Media zap right to fair trial: To wit, Casey Anthony et al.
By Terence Lenamon
April 8, 2009

"As one who represented Casey Anthony during negotiations on whether Florida would seek the death penalty, I think it's time that we evaluate the American media coverage of this hitherto unknown twentysomething single mother. Anthony is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie...

This case has become a witch hunt — a trial by media — and it has nothing to do with guilt or innocence. Casey Anthony is a moneymaker. Her case has become the subject of daily — sometimes hourly — national media coverage...

Add to this the media suggestion, even invitation, to form judgments of the defendant's guilt or innocence, and the blatant disrespect of our constitutional right to a fair trial — and the presumption of innocence we should all hold dear — goes out the window..

When I voice this concern, people like Nancy Grace point to O.J. Simpson. He got coverage like no other criminal defendant in this country, much of it presuming his guilt, and he was found innocent. The trial by media didn't hurt him, they say.

However, no one mentions Richard Jewell. No one talks about Sam Sheppard or John and Patsy Ramsey. And they should..."