Second-Guessing the King Jurors

Bravo for Thomas Rosenstiel’s news analysis, “Television Leads Many Viewers to Second-Guess Jury” (May 3).

I feel sorry for the poor jurors who spent seven days deliberating and rehearing some of the evidence in order to return what they thought was a logical and proper verdict. Haven’t we been told that we do not convict unless we are convinced that the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt because it is better to acquit 10 guilty persons than to convict one who is innocent? I do not know if the verdict was correct. What I do know is that I have presided over many cases where defendants have been acquitted although most persons (including the jurors) believed they were guilty.

We do not decide if an accused is innocent. He is guilty or not guilty. And the latter means that proof of guilt under all the evidence did not convince beyond a reasonable doubt.

LOUIS M. WELSH

Judge (Retired), Del Mar