Dangers in Rape Case ‘Reforms’
Dershowitz quoted an unnamed civil-liberties lawyer as saying, “ ‘Some people regard rape as so heinous an offense that they would not even regard innocence as a defense.’ ”
Unfortunately for Gary Dotson, this quotation seems to summarize the thinking of Illinois Judge Richard L. Samuels. Whatever his motivation, Judge Samuels’ misguided decision to return Dotson to prison to complete his 25-to-50-year sentence for rape, following the alleged victim’s courageous recantation in court of her 1979 testimony against Dotson, can only add to the growing public concern over the quality of justice dispensed by our courts.
There has been some erosion of confidence for some time in the ability of our courts to convict violent criminals and get them off our streets, where they do not belong. Now, thanks to the example of Judge Samuels, it appears we must also worry about how well our courts carry out their other solemn duty--to exonerate the innocent and allow them to return to their families and to our streets, where they do belong.
HOWARD L. HOGAN
Whittier
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