The American Jurisprudence and Joseph S Krex - Essay Example

The establishment of the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee marked the fine-tuning of the Pennsylvanian criminal justice. Though this marked a turning point for the justice system, the system has also been marred with some cases of imperfection. One such victim of this imperfection is Joseph S. Krex. Mr. Krex was falsely convicted by a jury for allegations of the intent of theft and falsification despite having presented adequate evidence to show that he was innocent. Notably, this case represented a miscarriage of justice.

The evidence presented by Krex’s attorney pointed to his innocence. This evidence engrossed two trial expert witnesses who had alluded to Mr. Klex’s innocence and a justification professional witness, a world-renowned handwriting expert, who noted that Mr. Klex was innocent (McLaughlin 1). This is among the many reasons for wrongful convictions for deeds people did not do. Over the past three years, more than eleven convicts have been exonerated on account of actual innocence based on evidence. In order to establish the innocence of an accused, the courts require assistance from an expert in fields such as science. In the case of Mr. Klex, the judge refused to hear out a renowned forensic handwriting expert who acknowledged that Mr. Klex was innocent (McLaughlin 1).

If any of the cases in Pennsylvania were to be reviewed, there would be some cases where those convicted are innocent in the sense that they did not partake in the crime. In order to guarantee that such instances do not recur, it is essential for the Pennsylvanian criminal justice system to consider all the recommendations contained in the report of the advisory committee on wrongful convictions. Who would object to efforts of eliminating wrongful convictions? What would be eviler than taking guiltless citizens, tarnishing their lives and punishing them for offenses they did not commit?

After having studied why innocent men and women were wrongfully convicted and doomed, the advisory committee established that some of the basis of wrongful convictions were mistaken eyewitnesses, false confessions, incompetent defense lawyers and dishonest informants. The report by the advisory committee also goes ahead to make recommendations on eyewitness identification, confessions, informant testimony, indigent defense services and prosecutorial practice. Some of these elements are present in Mr. Klex’s case. However, prejudice and bias are other elements present in the case. The judge is quoted referring to Mr.Klex as “a menace to the society” and portraying bias to the extent that it was deemed as though the Judge was manipulating the judicial system (McLaughlin 1). This shows that the judge violated the cannon that require him to be fair and impartial.