The Wheels of Justice Grind Slowly

I watch very little TV, but, the shows that I have seen about the legal system vary in how accurate they are, some are almost completely fantasy, others were clearly put together by people who have worked in the legal system, and, are pretty accurate.

Almost all of the shows, the more, and, less accurate usually get one thing wrong, how long cases take to move through the system. TV shows about criminal law usually go from arrest to trial in the same episode, making it seem like there is just a matter of days between the two events. That is understandable, TV viewers to do not want to watch months of routine hearings, wrangles over exchange of information, and other mundane aspects of the real world legal system. In the real world, for the minority of cases that go to trial, the trial rarely occurs less than a year before the arrest, or filing of initial charges. During that time important events occur, exchange of information, investigation of the case, motions to the court asking the judge to take certain actions, or, dismiss the case. That action is important, most work in any case happens outside of the trial, but, for TV purposes the trials are more exiting, and they are understandably focused on.

Enjoy the TV legal dramas, but, just remember, most of the action happens outside of court, and, for cases that get to trial real world lawyers, judges and witnesses do not look like your favorite TV star, I wish I could say that I looked like Brad Pitt, but, would not be honest if I did.

-Ed