By Christian Jackson
America, here we go again. The media has been allowed to infect yet another American courtroom.
Dr. Conrad Murray is accused of administering the fatal dose of the painkiller Propofol, which led to the death of Michael Jackson on June 25, 2009. On Monday, February 7, Judge Michael Pastor agreed to let cameras into the courtroom – provided they don’t interfere with legal proceedings. The judge said he wanted the “absolute least intrusive placement” of TV cameras. F.Y.I., Judge Pastor, cameras are always “intrusive,” regardless of their placement. If that fact is not clear, just take a look at the victim’s life. Yes, the victim, the forgotten person in this unfortunate episode. Michael Jackson lived a life tormented by cameras. Every moment of his existence was sacrificed to the limelight. It consumed his childhood, corroded his adult life, and will not be denied in his death. Jackson hated cameras so much that he covered his face, and the face of his children, on those rare occasions when he would go out in public. The cameras contributed to the pain and anxiety that led to Michael’s dependence on sleeping aids. How terribly backward is it that the “innocent-until-proven-guilty” defendant, hired by Jackson to provide an escape from his torment, is now subjected to the very same torment at his fair and impartial trial?
I am by no means a Conrad Murray supporter. His actions are somewhere between negligence and callousness. However, whether this jury convicts him or not, the American public has already and forever passed judgment on his life. He will be judged by: whether his reactions to testimony exude innocence, whether his tears are truthful, whether he is fearful. These are not the issues a jury should be considering. But an American public, with no legal training or direction, has little else to contemplate.
If convicted, Conrad Murray is unlikely to serve a single second in prison. However the judge, the media, and public acquiescence have ensured that, regardless of the trial’s outcome, Conrad Murray will forever be a prisoner of his own infamy. For the rest of his life, he will be known as “Dr. Death” – the man that murdered the “King of Pop.” Life will be constant evasion of ignorant yokels that will occasionally make the connection, Jackson fans willing to pick a fight, and contrived lawsuits. If fame is a fickle mistress, infamy is a crippling shrew. This is a truth with which Michael Jackson was acutely familiar. Thanks to Tinsel Town justice, Conrad Murray will have a lifetime to bond a scornful acquaintance.
Tags: doctor death, dr conrad murray, Dr. Death, michael jackson death, michael jackson propofol
Well stated.
” Life is a stage and all the men and women merely players”
Now every thing is captured on camera! Where has privacy gone?
I tend to agree with the deeper issues that you raise. American mass media is a toxic parasite.
Rather than report on news that would challenge people to think about real issues, we are
inundated with the carnival that is the GOP presidential candidate race, propaganda and pop
culture.
Also it seems like a terrible idea to be throwing fuel on the fire that is crazed Michael Jackson
fanatics. It’s sad that a great singer/songwriter has passed. But there’s a line in the sand
that you need not cross to grieve over this man. At best I view this man as a modern day
Dr. Kevorkian (the real “Dr. Death”), at worst a man manipulated by bribes and/or subject to
negligence.
It’s clearly a bad idea to allow cameras in a courtroom considering the sensitivity
and attention that this particualr case is inevitably going to witness. However, I can’t see how
you can equate the difficulties of paparazzi Jackon had to deal with during his life with the
irreparable damage to the integrity of the justice system by the judges decision to
allow such a high degree of transparency by the media. The single only purpose that putting
cameras in a court room has is so that the tapes can be cut down to specific moments that are
usually taken out of context and spun round the clock on news stations while being analyzed by
any one of a number of unqualified commentators.
As law students we should be crucifying this judge for his actions more than the
crazy Michael Jackson fans are doing to Conrad. I can give a pass to a mass of emotional
groupies subject to groupthink, I cannot to a well-educated public official that allows this
insensible negative nonsense to perpetuate.
I tend to agree with the deeper issues that you raise. American mass media is a toxic parasite.
Rather than report on news that would challenge people to think about real issues, we are
inundated with the carnival that is the GOP presidential candidate race, propaganda and pop
culture.
Also it seems like a terrible idea to be throwing fuel on the fire that is crazed Michael Jackson
fanatics. It’s sad that a great singer/songwriter has passed. But there’s a line in the sand
that you need not cross to grieve over this man. At best I view Conrad Murray as a modern day
Dr. Kevorkian (the real “Dr. Death”), at worst a man manipulated by bribes and/or subject to
negligence.
It’s clearly a bad idea to allow cameras in a courtroom considering the sensitivity
and attention that this particualr case is inevitably going to witness. However, I can’t see how
you can equate the difficulties of paparazzi Jackon had to deal with during his life with the
irreparable damage to the integrity of the justice system by the judges decision to
allow such a high degree of transparency by the media. The single only purpose that putting
cameras in a court room has is so that the tapes can be cut down to specific moments that are
usually taken out of context and spun round the clock on news stations while being analyzed by
any one of a number of unqualified commentators.
As law students we should be crucifying this judge for his actions more than the
crazy Michael Jackson fans are doing to Conrad. I can give a pass to a mass of emotional
groupies subject to groupthink, I cannot to a well-educated public official that allows this
insensible negative nonsense to perpetuate.
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