1998 Flaws in the system means it provides order but not justice While I applaud the investigation by Andrew Schneider and Mike Barber, they missed the story in Wenatchee. Rather than focus on specific participants of the Wenatchee legal system, the story is the system itself. I personally know almost everyone involved in the legal system during the entire debacle. Anyone acquainted with the judges or prosecutors involved knows that they are good, highly moral people. Yet, because of the sheer number of cases, our system has evolved into a system of law and order, rather than law and justice.
Justice takes time, which is scarce in our courts.
Because prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges are buried in cases, the system begins cutting corners and trusting the people with whom they have worked day after day. Juries trust that the person would not be on trial or would not have confessed if not guilty. The public trusts that the jury would not have convicted if the person was not guilty. Hence, the system has eroded to provide order but not justice. Everyone, participants and non-participants, are at fault.