Strategic

 In the continuing saga of Marilyn Mosby, the city states attorney for the city of Baltimore going on trial for perjury, among a few other charges, her defense team has now requested a change of venue. Initially she requested a speedy trial, stating she was ready to defend herself! Then the delays came, requested by her team. Her attorneys were issued a warning from a federal judge and came close to being sanctioned. They were essentially attempting to conduct a trial in the public forum, on the courthouse steps. It was an attempt to garner support for Marilyn Mosby. Having lost her bid for reelection her defense team pivoted talking about how she lost her job, and the electorate no longer supports her. They blame the news outlets in Baltimore! And now, they want a change of venue.

 I was listening to all of this and heard this explanation. There are only two Federal courts in Maryland. One in the city of Baltimore and the other is in Prince George's county. Mosby is being charged with federal offenses. So, she now wants the trial moved to Prince George's county. It's the reason that raised my eyebrows. It was explained that Prince George's county is predominately "people of color." Marilyn Mosby, also a woman of color, would benefit from that. The jury pool would be predominately "people of color." So, what you are saying is, the jury pool would be prejudiced in favor of Mosby? Could it be that the defense team, also comprised of "people of color" are counting on that? Are they saying that justice really isn't blind? 

 The details of exactly why this change of venue is being requested has not been released to the public. The judge has that application. I would be interested to read that. Usually, a change of venue is requested because you feel you can't get a fair trial in the area. I get that and perhaps she has a point. After all she is currently the city states attorney, although her term ends before the trial takes place, a clear indication she isn't very popular in Balitmore. She certainly can't just say I want the jurors to be "people of color" only. It's strange that she is requesting this at all according to the legal beagles on television. The judge that has been handling the case has been quite favorable to Mosby and her defense team. Well, whatever is finally decided is alright with me, I'm not terribly concerned. She's guilty as charged. The only decision to be made is the punishment. I don't expect it will be much more than a slap on the wrist. She has already set herself up as the victim! Yes, she claims all of this is just race based. I'm not surprised by that. 

 I only wrote all of this because of the open admission of prejudice. That's what I heard and I'm astonished. Now if a white person, assuming white people don't have a color, where to say anything like that, there would certainly be an uproar! If I were to say, I don't want any black people on the jury, what would be the response? A few years back a white news reporter asked if maybe there shouldn't be a change in candidates and was fired from her position! Why? Because for the third time in a row a black mayor was forced from office in the city of Baltimore for corruption or misdeeds. Now this reporter didn't say, you should try a white person, no she didn't say that, only that perhaps you should try something else. It was a mere implication that cost her job. But today a defense team can ask for a change of venue to get a jury pool more favorable based on their color? No outrage about that. Now, it's being called strategy. Nothing prejudicial about that, just strategy.