I am so tired of all the comments blaming JSS for everything.
Bashing the judge continually does not achieve anything.
JSS had a job to do - preside over the Jodi Ann Arias murder case.
The first trial resulted in a guilty verdict - guilty of Premeditated First Degree Felony Murder with the Aggravating Factor of Extreme Cruelty.
I couldn't agree more that the first trial went on far too long but even with the perceived latitude JSS gave to the defense, it still resulted in the desired verdict and I am sure she was pleased with the results as was everyone else.
Arias' manipulation got to the jury and they could not make a unanimous decision. That had nothing to do with the judge.
This second trial has been a three-ring circus from the get go.
Trashing of the victim, lying witnesses, bogus defense experts, AND total manipulation and disrespect for the law, the legal system itself and the court by the defense (Arias).
Apparently the public and the media do not care that grounds for sound appeals could result from this trial but rather.....as long as she gets the DP, they will be happy and will forget her.
Would it be Justice for Travis if Arias gets the DP - of course!
That is what everyone wants, including me, but importantly the Alexander family.
But to have a real possibility that an appeal could overturn the sentence is NOT Justice for Travis.
The judge accepted all of the many, many, many motions and although she took her time, she ruled - and not in the defense's favour.
She caused a fervour when she closed the courtroom when Arias was to testify.
But I believe she knew that it would be overturned in the end after the defense took it as far as they could through the law and it WAS by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Now she had something to fall back on if the defense tried to do anything similar.
She allowed the defense to bring in the same testimony over and over again and drag this case on beyond all expectations.
She allowed affidavits that I believe she knew were lies to begin with but also knew that they would be shot down by a brilliant prosecutor.
She gave the defense every opportunity to put on their case.
It made the public and the media furious but she was leaving no door open for future appeals.
Yesterday, in what many have seen to be another "give-in" to the defense and Arias, JSS gave ear to (but only ear) to Arias latest demands.
She instructed Arias a couple of times on the rules set out for an allocution - no cross examination and she would not be under oath.
She asked if Arias' reasons were the same as in the past.
She asked if she took any meds.
She asked if this was a voluntary waiver.
BUT, she also reminded Arias that the allocution was the chance for Arias to specifically speak to her crime, to show remorse and beg for mercy from the jury.
She gave her every opportunity to change her mind and decide to make an allocution.
Arias declined
The judge said OK and called the jury in to inform them that instructions to them and closing arguments would begin today.
Maybe JSS played right into Arias' hand - who knows? By not giving her allocution is she daring the jury to give her the DP when she would not stand before them and beg for her life? In her world, only a mentally ill person would do that.
This case came right on the heels of the Casey Anthony case and what so many felt were disastrous results.
Everyone was reeling from outrage, anger and anguish with the C. A. verdict.
With even having only limited knowledge of that case as I did not follow it, I would agree with how people felt.
People did not want the same conclusion to happen in this case.
But THIS case is not a clone to C. A.'s.
This case is unique in its own right.
This case has a different judge, different defense lawyers and different prosecutor.
The crime itself is far different.
Except for both defendants being manipulative and pathological liars - there can be no comparison.
I believe, that although some things she did were questionable, JSS presided over this case in the way she felt it could come to a favourable conclusion AND reduce or eliminate any grounds for appeals by Arias.
She had a difficult defendant and a difficult defense team that would hit below the belt and do any unethical trick they could to get their desired result.
She DID have a brilliant prosecutor and she knew that.
She ran her court in the way that she felt was most effective despite the criticism from so many.
To blame and trash her because she did her job the way she did and against what the public and media felt she should do is unfair when SHE is the one on the bench each and every day, with ALL the knowledge of the case - something that the public and media are not nor should be privy to.
I am not saying that "secret" is the way to go but a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. JSS had ALL of the knowledge of the case and its proceedings.
She has done her job and now we will see the final results.
Justice,
Thanks for refreshing my memory. I remember seeing a program on Pike. It was the pentagram that reminded me.
For me, the glaring difference between Pike and Arias is their childhoods.
Pike had a horrible childhood filled with unloving, uncaring and even abusive people. This background was all corroborated.
Arias, on the other hand, had a normal childhood for all intensive purposes. There is absolutely no corroboration to her allegations of abuse, drug dealing parents and unloving family members.
Pike received no help of any kind when people experienced her troublesome behaviour and therefore by sheer ignorance, it was almost condoned by others and it is a behaviour that Pike felt was justified and OK.
Arias, although in her teens people thought she was "not right", had no reason for intervention. She had a family that cared.
But having said this, both have been diagnosed with BPD, both committed heinous crimes and importantly, both are competent under the law and definitely know right from wrong.
I think that Arias is far more dangerous as she is devious in her actions and takes time to plan her moves.
That is not to say that Pike is not dangerous, as evident by her trying to kill another inmate. But her actions seem to be far more spontaneous.
Arias takes time, sets people up, plans her every move before she strikes, all the while acting as a sweet, caring person. THAT IS EVIL AND TERRIBLY DANGEROUS.
Bashing the judge continually does not achieve anything.
JSS had a job to do - preside over the Jodi Ann Arias murder case.
The first trial resulted in a guilty verdict - guilty of Premeditated First Degree Felony Murder with the Aggravating Factor of Extreme Cruelty.
I couldn't agree more that the first trial went on far too long but even with the perceived latitude JSS gave to the defense, it still resulted in the desired verdict and I am sure she was pleased with the results as was everyone else.
Arias' manipulation got to the jury and they could not make a unanimous decision. That had nothing to do with the judge.
This second trial has been a three-ring circus from the get go.
Trashing of the victim, lying witnesses, bogus defense experts, AND total manipulation and disrespect for the law, the legal system itself and the court by the defense (Arias).
Apparently the public and the media do not care that grounds for sound appeals could result from this trial but rather.....as long as she gets the DP, they will be happy and will forget her.
Would it be Justice for Travis if Arias gets the DP - of course!
That is what everyone wants, including me, but importantly the Alexander family.
But to have a real possibility that an appeal could overturn the sentence is NOT Justice for Travis.
The judge accepted all of the many, many, many motions and although she took her time, she ruled - and not in the defense's favour.
She caused a fervour when she closed the courtroom when Arias was to testify.
But I believe she knew that it would be overturned in the end after the defense took it as far as they could through the law and it WAS by the Arizona Supreme Court.
Now she had something to fall back on if the defense tried to do anything similar.
She allowed the defense to bring in the same testimony over and over again and drag this case on beyond all expectations.
She allowed affidavits that I believe she knew were lies to begin with but also knew that they would be shot down by a brilliant prosecutor.
She gave the defense every opportunity to put on their case.
It made the public and the media furious but she was leaving no door open for future appeals.
Yesterday, in what many have seen to be another "give-in" to the defense and Arias, JSS gave ear to (but only ear) to Arias latest demands.
She instructed Arias a couple of times on the rules set out for an allocution - no cross examination and she would not be under oath.
She asked if Arias' reasons were the same as in the past.
She asked if she took any meds.
She asked if this was a voluntary waiver.
BUT, she also reminded Arias that the allocution was the chance for Arias to specifically speak to her crime, to show remorse and beg for mercy from the jury.
She gave her every opportunity to change her mind and decide to make an allocution.
Arias declined
The judge said OK and called the jury in to inform them that instructions to them and closing arguments would begin today.
Maybe JSS played right into Arias' hand - who knows? By not giving her allocution is she daring the jury to give her the DP when she would not stand before them and beg for her life? In her world, only a mentally ill person would do that.
This case came right on the heels of the Casey Anthony case and what so many felt were disastrous results.
Everyone was reeling from outrage, anger and anguish with the C. A. verdict.
With even having only limited knowledge of that case as I did not follow it, I would agree with how people felt.
People did not want the same conclusion to happen in this case.
But THIS case is not a clone to C. A.'s.
This case is unique in its own right.
This case has a different judge, different defense lawyers and different prosecutor.
The crime itself is far different.
Except for both defendants being manipulative and pathological liars - there can be no comparison.
I believe, that although some things she did were questionable, JSS presided over this case in the way she felt it could come to a favourable conclusion AND reduce or eliminate any grounds for appeals by Arias.
She had a difficult defendant and a difficult defense team that would hit below the belt and do any unethical trick they could to get their desired result.
She DID have a brilliant prosecutor and she knew that.
She ran her court in the way that she felt was most effective despite the criticism from so many.
To blame and trash her because she did her job the way she did and against what the public and media felt she should do is unfair when SHE is the one on the bench each and every day, with ALL the knowledge of the case - something that the public and media are not nor should be privy to.
I am not saying that "secret" is the way to go but a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. JSS had ALL of the knowledge of the case and its proceedings.
She has done her job and now we will see the final results.
Justice,
Thanks for refreshing my memory. I remember seeing a program on Pike. It was the pentagram that reminded me.
For me, the glaring difference between Pike and Arias is their childhoods.
Pike had a horrible childhood filled with unloving, uncaring and even abusive people. This background was all corroborated.
Arias, on the other hand, had a normal childhood for all intensive purposes. There is absolutely no corroboration to her allegations of abuse, drug dealing parents and unloving family members.
Pike received no help of any kind when people experienced her troublesome behaviour and therefore by sheer ignorance, it was almost condoned by others and it is a behaviour that Pike felt was justified and OK.
Arias, although in her teens people thought she was "not right", had no reason for intervention. She had a family that cared.
But having said this, both have been diagnosed with BPD, both committed heinous crimes and importantly, both are competent under the law and definitely know right from wrong.
I think that Arias is far more dangerous as she is devious in her actions and takes time to plan her moves.
That is not to say that Pike is not dangerous, as evident by her trying to kill another inmate. But her actions seem to be far more spontaneous.
Arias takes time, sets people up, plans her every move before she strikes, all the while acting as a sweet, caring person. THAT IS EVIL AND TERRIBLY DANGEROUS.