The Disappearing Trial
The trial is the archetype of criminal justice.
It has captured the public imagination.
Just think of the dominance of courtroom
drama in film, TV and literature: the intense
personal drama of the trial for the defendant,
whose life hangs in the balance. The public
drama of the trial: after the shadowlands of
police custody, the evidence and the actions
of police and prosecutors are exposed to
the bright light of scrutiny. The public sees
the rule of law in action, witnesses real time
the search for truth and justice.