“…with Liberty and Justice for ALL."

The following is an excerpt from Part Two:

Several months following our release, we contact the local branch of ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union. Their mission is “to help preserve and protect the civil liberties of all Rhode Islanders against government infringement.” The right to due process of law is a specific issue with which they get involved. Our intention is to be re-tried fairly. They decline to help us. I then do some research online and discover a Providence-based lawyer specializing in post-conviction petitions for relief. I call to schedule a consultation.

Nearing the end of the meeting, we are geared up to proceed. Finally, this is our chance to reverse the travesty. He understands why we had to plead guilty to the false indictment. He believes we have a strong case. We feel like we have just been cured of cancer. We are going home to sleep
on it.

Then we are struck the fatal blow. He walks us to the door. “Who was the judge at your trial?”

“Judge Sour Clout.” He stops dead. He stares at us for a moment and shakes his head wearily. I cannot imagine what the problem is. The silence is deafening. It is as though we have jumped but the parachute fails.

“Have a seat.” We sink into the waiting room chairs and resume breathing. Sid speaks up. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s gonna be pissed that you’re busting his balls. There’s a good chance he’ll have you locked up again while awaiting trial.” We know that means we will not make it to the trial. We will probably be counted among the ranks of “suicide” victims. Worse yet, we might survive. We could end up a casualty, like one man I know who was castrated by other inmates in the yard while guards provided “adequate supervision.”

So much for liberty and justice, thank you very much.