Over the years there have been many "verdict wakes" - as people waited, and fretted, and speculated. If we have been part of any of those, this wait for the Sandusky jury is familiar territory. Brief bits of mine below the orange Itzl. What are some of yours?
Most recently we have had the John Edwards case. I followed that loosely during the trial; and was interested, but not intensely focused, on the verdict. I think his behavior was sleazy, and it was disappointing that he had such feet of clay, but I didn't expect that his actions would necessarily rise to a "guilty verdict". As far as I'm concerned he has substantially paid for his behavior. He will likely continue to pay for some time to come. Interesting to note that Rielle has a book out, and will be the interview focus on 20/20 tonight.
Not long ago the case celebre was Casey Anthony. That one has been referenced many times in discussion threads about the Sandusky trial and the uncertainty of how evidence is read by juries. How effective, or not, prosecution and defense might be. I had had quite enough of the Anthony case before the trial, thanks to Nancy Grace. We were on vacation and travelling a lot during the trial itself so weren't inundated, but could not escape it becasue it was top story any time we did check in on the news of the day. And Nancy Grace was always there. Always. Whatever my opinion of Casey's guilt or innocence, I was ready to incarcerate Nancy for 99+ years by the time we got there. I can only say "thank Gawd" that I have not heard Nancy opine on the Sandusky case. Maybe she isn't opining, or maybe I'm not tuned in when it happens. Whatever.
The case that I feel most viscerally as we await the Sandusky verdict is the OJ Simpson case. At that time I worked with victims of Domestic Violence. Those of us in that area of service followed that trial very closely. Knowing what we knew about the dynamics, it seemed pretty clear cut to us. The lawyers were all over the place, as was public opinion. Still, it seemed likely a guilty verdict could come down. When a verdict was announced, many of us on staff were eating lunch, and ran to the living room of the shelter to see the TV. And it was "not guilty", and there was a low moan/groan from all watching, and then silence as we walked away, back to whatever place where we could lick our wounds, compare notes, try to figure out what had happened.
That last case is the one that feels most like the "verdict wake" for the Sandusky case. I feel most personally invested in it, as I did then, although I am neither a victim of spouse abuse or sex abuse. To me the evidence seems so, so clear in this instance - but it did then, too. The defense lawyers in this case seem less competent, and definitely much less flamboyant or risk taking than in the OJ case. But you never know what is going on in the jury room. You never know. So we keep waiting.
While we wait for what justice might be found in this case, and prepare for what justice may be found in the upcoming Trayvon Martin shooting case, what memorable trials and "verdict wakes" would you like to share?
UPDATE: Of all the trials, past and present, the conclusion to this one is definitely the most satisfying in some respects. Jerry Sandusky found guilty on 45 of 48 counts. Still, that doesn't make the witnessing victims whole. It doesn't address the additional victims who did not testify - including Sandusky's adopted son. It doesn't address the collateral damage, from wife Dottie and the rest of Sandusky's family, to the community as a whole, to the thousands across the country who found the whole story and trial a triggering experience. Justice is never complete, but this was a beginning.