That’s the argument as I understand it - they hope to generate sympathy from the public and I assume legal system…”looks at that frail, harmless old man”. It’s a charade that I experienced while in a jury pool - defendant was in a wheelchair and looked like a weak, sick elderly man…accused of stabbing and nearly killing a much younger, healthy woman. I doubt she just stood there as he slowly rolled up.
My one and only court appearance I was the only sentencee wearing a suit. Everyone else was wearing casual/pajama type clothing to the point the judge even brought it up himself.
“Well you look very nice Mr. Weirdguy. I wish more people realized this is supposed to be a formal occasion”
He then gave me the absolute minimum sentence possible for what I was there for.
That’s the argument as I understand it - they hope to generate sympathy from the public and I assume legal system…”looks at that frail, harmless old man”. It’s a charade that I experienced while in a jury pool - defendant was in a wheelchair and looked like a weak, sick elderly man…accused of stabbing and nearly killing a much younger, healthy woman. I doubt she just stood there as he slowly rolled up.
It works the opposite way too.
My one and only court appearance I was the only sentencee wearing a suit. Everyone else was wearing casual/pajama type clothing to the point the judge even brought it up himself.
“Well you look very nice Mr. Weirdguy. I wish more people realized this is supposed to be a formal occasion”
He then gave me the absolute minimum sentence possible for what I was there for.