RUMOR WATCH : Presumed Innocent

The beauty of the American system of justice is that, at least in theory, it is supposed to work for the rich as well as the poor.

Yes, we realize that this is a rather unusual turn on the usual phrase, but it does bear asserting: Just because you are rich and can afford the best legal talent money can buy doesn’t mean you are not entitled to the U.S. justice system’s presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Entertainer Michael Jackson is under a cloud of serious allegations right now. But they are only allegations and they are not proven. Indeed, nothing has even been officially charged.

And nothing may ever be officially charged. The ultimate truth may turn out to be that there is no truth to any of these charges.

The American system of justice is based on the requirement of proof before conviction.

A good thing, too: Recent case history in America regarding allegations of sexual molestation of minors is replete with examples of charges that eventually were shown to be false or were unproven.

Furthermore, without conviction in a court of law, the American system insists on complete exculpability. If no charges are proven, there can be no guilt.

Even a multimillionaire deserves to be judged by no less fair a standard. Indeed, if we fail to insist on that, we allow an individual’s career and future to be driven into the ground by nothing more than unofficial charges and rumors.

And that would be a sad day for America--whether you’re rich or poor, famous nor not.