Justice Gone Awry

          According to C.S. Lewis, "Justice means much more than the sort of thing that goes on in law courts. It is the old name for everything we should now call 'fairness,' it includes honesty, give and take, truthfulness, keeping promises, and all that side of life" (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity), 78.

          On Tuesday, July 5, 2011, many people in the United States could not believe their ears when Casey Anthony was declared not guilty by the selected twelve-member jury. The verdict of "not guilty" sent a shock wave across the United States. The phrase that was on every person's lips was "Justice was not served." While Casey Anthony and her lawyers were all smiles and jubilation, most people were saddened by the miscarriage of justice. In this case, the person who did not receive justice was the poor victim Caylee Anthony whose lifeless body was dumped in the swamp. Casey Anthony was declared not guilty because the Prosecution did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Since humans are fallible, there are some loopholes in the justice system that sometimes allows culprits to escape punishment. I believe that Casey and some members of the family certainly know what happened to Caylee, but they have chosen not to tell the truth. This does not mean that those who are not pleased with the verdict should take matters into their own hands and seek revenge for the deceased baby. Two wrongs do not make one right. For now the law and the verdict are in Casey's favor. Casey Anthony has been released from jail today to enjoy her life of freedom. While it is hard for many of us to accept the outcome of this case, we should exercise restraint and self-control. The anger and frustration that many people have demonstrated in this case show that many of us still value human life no matter the age difference. Besides the family members and Casey Anthony, nobody knows exactly what happened to the baby. However God knows, and one day God the Righteous and Omniscient Judge will balance the scales of justice for the deceased two-year old baby girl. God's judgment is flawless and perfect, and the good part is that it does not involve human jury that sometimes is flawed and biased.

          Kennedy A. Adarkwa, PhD.