No oath — no conviction, Mich. court says [verdict overturned because jury not sworn in]

AP via Newsvine.com ^ | Fri Mar 5, 2010

[Slings and Arrows]

ANN ARBOR — A Michigan man sent to prison for 15 years is getting a new trial after the judge failed to do a routine procedure — ask the jury to take an oath.

Timothy Becktel was sentenced in 2008 for assault with intent to murder. But his appellate lawyer successfully argued that the verdict should be thrown out because the jury didn't swear to return an honest decision based on law and evidence.

[Slings and Arrows]

From a legal point of view I suppose I see the necessity, but...*facepalm*.

[Slings and Arrows]

[GOP_Raider]

[Slings and Arrows]

*sigh* Oh yeah. Epic fail.

[Scotsman will be Free]

“He says Becktel’s trial attorney never objected to the lack of a jury oath.”
The defense doesn’t have to save the prosecution from a screwup. The defense attorney probably didn’t notice it, either.

[cripplecreek]

A jury with a clue might have caught it but we don’t tell jurors their rights anymore.

[eyedigress]

That judge is obviously dead.

[Titan Magroyne]

Damn. Wonder what kinda shape his victim is in.

[Peet]

A jury with a clue might have caught it but we don’t tell jurors their rights anymore.

Fully Informed Jury Association

[cripplecreek]

Its pathetic that a case can get tossed because a jury didn’t receive their oath but they don’t need to be informed of their rights.

[Slings and Arrows]

Good question. Another trial means either more burdens for the victim and witnesses, or they can’t make it and the perp walks. Disgusting.

[a fool in paradise]

It's where we wind up when half of the culture spits on “procedure” and “pompinstance” and things like the Pledge of Allegiance or the National Anthem.

There was union meeting with a Democrat and they openly laughed when it was asked if they were going to say the pledge of allegiance. They gave it a run through but laughed about it.

The institutions are corrupt. The courts serve as a workforce, not a system of justice.

[a fool in paradise]

The judge didn’t notice this? The court reporter didn’t notice this? The baliff didn’t notice this? A whole lot of people drawing pay but not doing their blankity blank jobs.

[equaviator]

What’s the big deal? Rules are rules and that’s what rules!...end of story.