Unfair Convictions: Controversial Perception of Justice Essay

Introduction

In the past decade, the manner under which the rule of law is applied to some allegations depicts a controversial perception of justice. Justice should be based on the rules contained in the constitution that the judicial system relies on while issuing its verdict in various lawsuits. However, in some cases associated with the public's opinion, the jurors may be swayed to issue a verdict that befits the general public's needs and undermines the defendant's rights. For instance, Saddam Hussein's execution exemplifies one of the most contentious verdicts issued by the court system. Some legal expert critics claim that hanging Saddam was not the most appropriate sentence against the human crimes he committed in Iraq. Conversely, some people believe that through his execution justice was served for the criminal offences he perpetrated against the Iranians. Likewise, the Ox-Bow Incident and the Trial of Socrates illustrates the society's determination to ensure the plaintiff obtains justice on the offences committed by the defendant. Therefore, the verdict issued by the jury and posse in both incidences portrays the society's mob mentality, paranoia, and its unforgiving treatment to mavericks.

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Mob mentality

Once the revellers at Canby's Saloon received the news from a man that Drew's cattle had been stolen and Lawrence Kinkaid murdered a posse was formed. The posse's central aim was to ensure that justice prevailed through pursuing the cattle rustlers. However, Davies believed in the essence to adhere to the law. He sent Joyce and Gil to inform Judge Tyler of the unfolding situation but Major Tetley's arrival worsened the situation as he incited the mob to pursue the alleged criminals. Moreover, Davies and Tyler's efforts to persuade the crowd to desist from pursuing the rustlers was unsuccessful due to the public's view that Judge Tyler's justice system was too slow. When the mob captured Donald Martin, Juan Martinez, and Alva Hardwick their fate was determined by the majority's vote to have them hanged (Hada 147). Despite the judge's initial warning to the mob to bring the alleged cattle rustlers to Bridger's Well Town alive to stand trial, they were executed at dawn. Therefore, the mob's mentality to have a swift justice system led to the purported cattle rustlers' unjust death.

The impiety and corruption allegations on Socrates by Lycon, Meletus, and Anytus were meant to represent the rhetoricians, poets as well as politicians interests. In his defence, Socrates informs the jurors that their mindset was influenced by his accusers while they were impressionable youths. Hence, the falsified allegations on Socrates were fabricated by his enemies who were envious of his reputation. He claimed that the accusations on him corrupting the Athenian youths' mindset was illogical. In case, Socrates was advocating for moral corruption among the youths then the complainants should have brought the victims before the jury. He emphasizes that if he will be convicted for teaching the youth atheism it is because of Aristophanes' playwright (Blyth 9). The comic play had already influenced the audiences' youthful mentality by nurturing the impression that Socrates was a sophistical philosopher. For that reason, Socrates upheld the perception that the biased public opinion might play a fundamental in influencing the jury's verdict on his case.

Paranoia

Gil Carter and Art Croft are suspected to be cattle rustlers since there are strangers in Bridger's Wells Township. Consequently, when the news on Kinkaid's murder and Drew's stolen cattle reached the townspeople in Candy's saloon the two had to support the locals' idea to pursue the criminals. Gil and Art had to demonstrate their allegiance to the posse to avoid being viewed as potential suspects. Besides, when the crowd captured the alleged criminals with a herd of cattle branded Drew's name they decided to hang the suspects without a fair trial. The mob's paranoid view on Judge Tyler's slow court system to administer justice influenced a majority of them to vote against taking the suspects back to town to face justice. Besides, Juan Martinez being found in possession of Kinkaid's gun and the lack of a sale agreement between Drew and Donald Martin served as the evidence required by the crowd to justify their paranoid perception (Hada 148). Hence, paranoia played a crucial role in influencing the two cowboys' decision to support the mob's objective and the posse's final decision to hang the three suspected cattle rustlers.

Socrates affirmed the need for the citizens to adhere to divine and human authority. Hence, he claimed that one needs to owe more allegiance to divine authority that supersedes human authority. "Gentlemen, I am your grateful and devoted servant, but I owe a greater obedience to the, Delphic, god than you; and as long as I draw breath and my faculties, I shall never stop practicing philosophy" (Blyth 12). Socrates held the view of the Delphic god being the Oracle's spokesperson who dictated the moral conduct and ethics in Athens. He speculated that the accusations raised by Meletus, Anytus, and Lycon were against the god. Furthermore, Socrates condemned the audience for their determination to acquire honour, reputation, and wealth rather than perfecting their souls based on truthful thoughts. Such controversial views led to Meletus allegations that Socrates was an atheist. Therefore, Meletus' paranoid view created the impression that Socrates was an atheist who believed in demigods and did not adhere to divine authority.

Society's Harsh Treatment

Gil Carter and Art Croft had the objective of settling in at the Bridger's Wells Township. However, the residents viewed them as cattle rustlers rather than visitors. An opinion that led to their involuntary action to assist in capturing the alleged criminals who had murdered Kinkaid and stolen Drew's cattle. Similarly, at the Ox Bow Valley Donald Martin, Juan Martinez, and Alva Hardwick were hanged despite Martin informing the crowd that he had legally bought Drew's cattle. Major Tetley's determination to revenge Kinkaid's death led him to head the crowd in hanging the three suspects. However, his son Gerald felt guilty to have participated in the lynching of the suspected cattle rustlers when he learns that Drew had sold his cattle to Martin and Kinkaid was alive. Gerald's guilt led to his decision to commit suicide in their barn (Hada 149). Similarly, Major Tetley's conscience to having obliged his son to participate in hanging the alleged suspects led to his suicidal death by his Calvary sword. Hence, the society's harsh treatment to the cowboys obliged them to join the posse, led to the alleged cattle rustlers' death, and Gerald's eventual suicidal decision.

Socrates' trial on impiety and corrupting the Athenians youths culminated in the jurors issuing a guilty verdict against him. Even though he had informed the jury that the allegations raised against him were prejudice and gossip from his enemies. "Socrates is committing an injustice, in that he inquiries into things below the earth and in the sky; and makes the weaker argument stronger, and teaches others to follow his example" (Blyth 16). Socrates proposed to the jury that he should have been acknowledged as a benefactor in Athens who was to be entitled to the free Pyrtaneum meals. Conversely, he was issued a death penalty for his accusations on corrupting the youths and impiety. Therefore, the jury's verdict exemplifies the harsh manner that the society thought mavericks like Socrates should be treated.

The decision to have the alleged cattle rustlers hanged and Socrates' death sentence were both determined by a majority voting process. The verdict issued by the mob at the Ox-Bow Valley depicts the mob mentality and their paranoia to have Judge Tyler's court system issue a fair verdict on the alleged criminals. Likewise, the Athenian jury was composed of numerous jurors to ensure that they were not biased in issuing a fair conviction. However, the jury had their mindset corrupt by the public's opinion during their youth stage. Therefore, the three suspects' death at the Ox-Bow Valley and Socrates conviction on baseless allegations on corruption and impiety depict the society's harsh treatment on the nonconformists.

Works Cited

Blyth, Douglas. "Socrates' Trial And Conviction Of The Jurors In Plato's Apology." Philosophy and Rhetoric 33.1 (2000): 1-22.

Hada, Kenneth. "Clark's The Ox-Bow Incident." The Explicator 59.3 (2001): 147-149.