“Laws are spider webs through which the big flies pass and the little ones get caught.” – Honore de Balzac

Contained in the papers written by Alexander Hamilton and other wise men, there is one that was believed to be the third branch of power in the government, but the least powerful. Federalist essay #78: “Of the three powers, the judiciary is next to nothing.” At the time of writing these thoughts about the new government there was little thought that without financial powers, and power over the military, the courts were designed to be the least dangerous to the system of government. Hamilton also stated that high court judges should retain their positions, as long as they exhibited GOOD BEHAVIOR!

Without a doubt, it was believed that by limiting financial and military power, the federal judge system was to be fair, independent and virtuous in judicial rulings. Or at least that is what the founding fathers believed.

Over the last two centuries, the highest courts of the land have tried to be faithful to the original goals of a fair court. Justice was supposed to be blind to the race, color or origin of the accused. Hear the evidence and oversee a juried system when necessary and give rulings when needed without influence by any outside sources. Follow the evidence and laws for all. And, “NO ONE is above the law.”

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. Today in our country the court system is being filled with persons who bring with them prejudice and favoritism to a basic philosophy of conservatism.

Before you become incensed as to my beliefs, I will acknowledge that over the time in our country there is little doubt that men and women who sit on the highest level of the laws sometimes were inclined to lean one way or the other without consideration of the true facts, but political ideals. But today the high court has been so filled with hard core conservatives, that even the consideration of balanced fairness is all but removed from the federal system.

Hundreds of convicted January 6th rioters, were tried by fair minded citizens and given justice under the laws and sentencing guidelines. We have a President who has been convicted of multiple felonies, and yet no justice under the law, due to the high court’s ruling a President is above the law. He can do no wrong in the pursuit of governing the country.

William Shakespear once wrote: “The law is the refuge of the coward.” Over the years the laws and their administering has evolved. Not always to protect the innocent, but to protect the guilty if they have money and power. The law, like spider webs, can react by letting the big bugs through and snaring the small ones. When convicted, the outcome is based on the monetary ability to mount a fair defense. If a person is accused of crimes against the weak and innocent, they have no resources to pay a competent lawyer for a fair defense, they will be sentenced by the guidelines set up by the legislative branch of the government. But if a person is convicted of crimes against the weak and unprotected, and they have three lawyers representing them, they are likely to pass through the web justice. The courts will be asked for continuance after continuance. The system needs to move on, so a deal is offered to clear the dockets. Similar crimes against the weak and the first defendant is sentenced to years behind bars. The second defendant receives almost no time in comparison. Both are guilty of horrendous crimes and found guilty. But justice was not equally administered because the law was allowed to be manipulated by legal statutes.

America is moving beyond the balance of government designed by the founding fathers. It no longer has three branches, only one. The judicial system has moved to consolidate powers around our President. The legislators have moved to support one great leader, hoping as he consolidates his powers, it will extend to them.

Andrew Jackson: “All the rights secured to the citizens under the Constitution are worth nothing, and a mere bubble, except guaranteed to them by an independent and virtuous Judiciary.”

The founding fathers would be shocked to see the freedoms and ideals they worked so hard to guarantee the citizens of their new country being stripped away through one twisted phrase, “Make America Great Again.”

That is the way I see things as I look Through the Lens.