In The Still of The Night - Mitch McConnell's Trial Rules

All of us have had some experience with the justice system. If not ourselves, a relative, friend or co-worker has shared their story. Maybe it was a traffic ticket, or jury duty, or a credit or real estate deal with problems. Some have probably experienced more serious issues as the accused or as a victim. Something was stolen, there was harassment or a physical confrontation. And it doesn't necessarily have to be through a court of law. It could be interactions with a Human Resources Department, a School Board, or an organization we belong to. Our view of justice and fairness though comes from these experiences.

With this backdrop, we are all beginning to see how justice may or may not work when you're the President of the United States and your trial is held in the US Senate, currently under the leadership and stewardship of Mitch McConnell. I mention stewardship because the US Senate is one of those institutions with a mighty past that needs protection from those who may want to change its functions forever.

The President of the United States is on trial. It seems that the rules for his trial will be much different than anything many of us are familiar with. It looks more and more like this trial will not allow witnesses or important facts to be presented. It also looks like a real defense will not even be necessary. Instead, it seems that a show trial will be the basis of what occurs. Rules have been established by Mitch McConnell with little to no bipartisan agreement. One of these rules deals with the hours and time frame of the trial itself. Due to the Chief Justice's duties that continue on the Supreme Court, the trial's hours will begin at 1:00pm each day and may continue for up to 12 hours per day for the presentation of the prosecution and the defense. This means that trial presentations will go potentially until 1:00am in the morning. Much of the proceedings will be late at night based on these hours, out of the public view. In the still of the night, prosecutors, defense attorneys, Senators, and the Chief Judge will hold a trial that accuses the President of Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress.

Yes, we should all be wondering and asking how this stacks up against our own experiences with justice? Is this the way it's supposed to work? Is this what we can and should expect for ourselves in the future? Can a person with so much power actually walk down 5th Ave and shoot someone with no one flinching and no consequences? Is the silence of the night, the silence we should expect to hear from Senators? Let's hope not, but I fear it may be and that our country is in much more trouble than most can imagine.