Lessons from televised trials

We have become a nation obsessed with watching criminal trials on television.

Heck, there are even cable networks whose main focus is to cover trials 24 hours a day.

For many viewers, it is the first time anyone has witnessed a trial from the comfort of a living room.

Television has transported us inside the courtroom and given us a front-row seat.

As a result, we have been exposed to some heretofore unknown legal terms and have learned about some expensive shoes, a hospital medication that when used to excess can result in death, and cadaver dogs. So let's explore our new learnings for a moment.

Voir dire -- this is a process wherein selected jurors are subjected to a series of questions posed by both the prosecution and the defense. Attorneys look for any emotional link a potential juror may have to the accused or any bias that may impact the trial.

Side bar -- this refers to the position beside the judge's bench where the attorneys for both sides can confer with the judge about the trial outside of the hearing of the jury and the witness. It usually arises when there is an issue of conflict. The court stenographer records the conversation and it becomes part of the trial record. It is often used in an appeal process.

Bruno Magli shoes -- I suspect that prior to the O.J. Simpson murder trial few people had ever heard of Bruno Magli shoes. According to trial testimony, footprints left at the crime scene were size 12 and a similar size of Bruno Magli shoes was found in O.J.'s home. The shoes range in price from $300 to well over $500.

For a more detailed explanation, this from the website: Bruno Magli was founded in Bologna, Italy, in the 1930's. Propelled by the "made in Italy" craze, Bruno Magli quickly became a major competitor in the Italian footwear market.

For O.J. and his million dollar fortune, I guess just wearing a pair of Keds tennis shoes was out of the question. I can't imagine he is now wearing a pair of Bruno Magli shoes while he is incarcerated for the next nine years for a hotel robbery.

Propofol -- this is a medical agent used to sedate people for various operations.

As we learned from the Michael Jackson trial, it appears that an overdose of this drug may have been one of the contributing factors in his death.

Cadaver dogs -- these specially trained canines are able to locate and follow the scent of decomposing human flesh. In many cases a body is required to prove a crime and these dogs have proved to be invaluable in most cases. The dogs operate both on and off a leash and locate a body by smell, much like a dog knowing where he last buried his bone.

Evidently the odor from decomposing flesh has a unique smell and can't be concealed. On the other hand, wonder if anyone has seen the current Febreze commercials where after a few spritzes of this odor killer, no one can detect the smell of spoiled meat.

Instead of using people in the Febreze commercial, how about using a cadaver dog to see if the product really is effective in concealing decomposing flesh?

Prior to the recent spate of television trials, our only exposure to court was the "Perry Mason" show with Raymond Burr.

That was followed by another Burr appearance in the popular show "Ironside" which ran for eight years.

The O.J. Simpson murder trial lasted from Jan. 29 through Oct. 3 and it only seemed like eight years.

The Casey Anthony and Michael Jackson trials lasted a mere six weeks. And these trials spawned a whole series of cable shows stocked with legal experts and pundits who every day waxed somewhat eloquently (at least in their own opinion) about the day's proceedings to the point of information overload.

We all remember the words of Simpson attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. when he uttered, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."

Frankly, I am weary of all the trials being televised and as such I say: "These spectacles give me a fit -- I say it's time to quit!"