Due process snubbed

At this writing, I’m in my second week of jury duty and have served as a juror on one trial. Throughout our orientation as jurors and throughout the trial, court authorities emphasized that persons on trial are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty and that the burden of proving guilt falls upon the state- the governmental body that has charged the defendant with committing a crime.

Not surprisingly, President Trump seems not to have heard of this concept. He’s quoted as saying, “these thugs being thrown in the back of the paddy wagon, you just see them thrown in rough, I said, please don’t be too nice.” (“Trump appears to advocate rough treatment of suspects,” July 29).

Our Constitution guarantees due process of law, and when the president of the United States asks arresting officers to be rough with people merely suspected of having committed crimes, regardless of how strong the evidence against them may appear at the time, he’s asking enforcers of the law to violate provisions of our Constitution.

In short, to hell with judges and juries; If a person is arrested, let the punishment begin.

That level of ignorance isn’t unusual for this president, but it ought to be an embarrassment to every citizen.

Edward A. Reynolds

Spokane