Republicans don't hate trial lawyers. They hate juries.

[displacedtexan]

"Trial Lawyer" will become a major attack weapon in this election unless we get out front immediately and point out the truth of the matter: Repukes don't hate trial lawyers. They hire them constantly, use them to stall American justice, and run to court at the drop of a hat!

Republicans hate juries.

That's you and me, folks... and even their own kind.

My favorite line in "The Verdict" comes at the end of Paul Newman's summation to the jury:

INT. COURTROOM - JUDGE HOYLE'S P.O.V. - FULL COURTROOM - DAY

All looking slightly to their right.

ANGLE

JUDGE SWEENEY
Mr. Galvin...?

ANGLE - GALVIN

In front of the full jury box. Beat.

GALVIN
You know, so much of the time we're
lost. We say, 'Please, God, tell
us what is right. Tell us what's
true. There is no justice. The
rich win, the poor are powerless...'
We become tired of hearing people
lie. After a time we become dead.
A little dead. We start thinking
of ourselves as victims. (pause)
And we become victims. (pause)
And we become weak...and doubt
ourselves, and doubt our
institutions...and doubt our
beliefs...we say for example, `The
law is a sham...there is no law...I
was a fool for having believed
there was.' (beat) But today you
are the law. You are the law...And
not some book and not the lawyers,
or the marble statues and the
trappings of the court...all that
they are is symbols. (beat) Of
our desire to be just... (beat)
All that they are, in effect, is a
prayer...(beat) ... a fervent, and
a frightened prayer. In my religion
we say, `Act as if you had faith,
and faith will be given to you.'
(beat) If. If we would have faith
in justice, we must only believe
in ourselves. (beat) And act
with justice. (beat) And I believe
that there is justice in our
hearts. (beat) Thank you.

He stands still a moment, then surveys the still courtroom.

We are the law!
Let's act like it.

[flpoljunkie]

1. Absolutely. The oft repeated GOP mantra that judges only interpret the law

as written by the legislative bodies, not make the law, is totally disingenuous.

The GOP wants activist judges that will do their bidding, and repeal rulings they do not like, particularly Roe v. Wade.

[Chef]

2. Trial Lawyers

Excellent post. The freepers hate us for our democratic freedoms. Allowing a jury of our peers to determine what is just in a court of law is way too revolutionary for them. I, like many, am taken aback at some decisions made by juries, but to restrict them is going down a path who's end is the loss of democracy. I would rather live with the excesses of a jury than limit the right of redress against the powerful. I'm sorry that Dr.'s have to pay so much for malpractice insurance, but the answer is not to smother the rights of the people.

[displacedtexan]

3. The powerful only go to court if they think they can win.

They'll stop settling malpractice and fraud cases altogether if they think a hand-picked judge will be on their side.

[RDObran]

5. Insurance Companies are the ones Getting RICH!!

How about someone checking the profits of Insurance Companies that insure doctors and others being sued? My experience: they are VERY RICH and throw wild amounts of money around in their corporations.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi RDObran!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Warpy]

4. They really, really hate the litigants.

I mean, out of the goodness of its heart, a corporation sold you an IMAGE. So what if the thing rolled over on the first hard turn and the gas tank exploded? You had that IMAGE! You should be GRATEFUL! How dare you sue???

[LuminousX]

6. Trial by jury is democratic, of course Repukes hate it

Republicans hate the American judicial system as it does ultimately give power to the people. I may quibble over some decisions, but just a small percentage of all the decisions that are made by juries.

Republicans hate.

[kodi]

8. that "verdict" rant is called jury nullification of the law

"we" are not the law.

[BeFree]

9. "Justice for All"

It's in the durn pledge.

But the pukes don't like 'Justice For All'. Never did. They want Justice for themselves only; when justice nails them they rant and scream and raise hell and want to change the system. Screw 'em.

Soon, (better late than never, eh?) we shall have a real Lawyer working hard to see that pledge of 'Justice for All' in America come to be more than just words in the durn pledge.