Show Editorial Tipping the scales of justice A bill sponsored by the Statewide Association Association Association tion of Prosecutors could put any Utahn Inthe in inthe inthe the position of having to prove his own innocence innocence innocence in in- rather than the prosecution having to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt The bill calls for a change in judiciary policy making the term beyond a reasonable doubt broad enough in meaning that it will actually remove the need for overwhelming overwhelming overwhelming over over- whelming evidence evidence evidence-as as has in the past been deemed the Constitutional way of holding a atrial trial The bill suggests a standard which asks that the evidence be only slightly weighted towards towards' guilt or innocence completely negating the right to a fair trial When the only witness is the defendant prosecutors claim that they are at a disadvantage under undercurrent undercurrent undercurrent current evidence standards The Salt Lake Tribune quoted Mr F. F John Hill director of Salt Lake County Legal Defenders Association as predicting that if the bill passed more defendants would be brought to trial more people would be convicted convicted convicted con con- and cases that were close would go against the defense Hill is also quoted as assaying assaying assaying saying that the bill is unconstitutionally broad and vague The May 21 Salt Lake Tribune article also stated that the bills bill's proposed standard a preponderance of guilt is already commonly used in civil and small claims courts Could this be why the civil courts court are r so full Is there a rush to be the plaintiff in civil cases since the burden of proof often lies with the defendant This is a dangerous possibility possibility possibility pos pos- when the defendant is asked to furnish furnish furnish fur fur- nish more proof of his innocence than the prosecution would have to furnish to prove his guilt Those who have been defendants may agree that the civil and small claims courts have already stopped desiring guilt beyond a reasonable doubt Since only a small portion of the citizenry ever enter the court system little if any outcry is heard If we wish to keep our country strong we must each fight for our constitutional rights We can do that by speaking out when we are angered by these attempts to usurp our freedoms If we are not really angered we have already given them up |