Blind Justice

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#354: “Blind Justice”
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January 31, 1996
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Scripture

Isaiah 59:1-21

1Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

2But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. 3For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things. 4No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. 5They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider's web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched. 6Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. 7Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways. 8The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks in them will know peace. 9So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. 10Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like men without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. 11We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away. 12For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: 13rebellion and treachery against the LORD, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. 14So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. 15Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. 16He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. 17He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. 18According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due. 19From the west, men will fear the name of the LORD, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the LORD drives along. 20"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the LORD.

21"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD.

Micah 6:8
8He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

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“Two Angry Men”
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“Blind Justice” is episode #354 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written by Marshal Younger and Paul McCusker, and originally aired on May 11, 1996.

Summary

Eugene and Bernard wind up on the same jury and must decide the fate of a young boy accused of burglary.

Plot

Bernard and Eugene learn a lesson in civic duty as they are called to sit on the same jury. They, and the 10 other jurors, must decide the guilt or innocence of a young man named Donald who is accused of breaking-and-entering and burglary. Donald has confessed to the breaking-and-entering, but does not admit to the burglary.

In the jury room, the vote is 11-to-1 to convict him of both crimes. The lone holdout? Eugene! He simply isn’t convinced of Donald’s guilt in the burglary and demands that they review all the facts until they can be sure. The jury argues and argues. Slowly but surely, Eugene convinces nearly everyone that Donald is innocent. Only a begrudged juror, Victor Laslic, holds out. Under pressure, Victor reveals that he has a personal vendetta against Donald. A mistrial is declared, but with the jury's finds, justice should triumph after all.

This plot section is too short and should be expanded. »

Discussion Questions

  1. Why was Eugene so adamant against voting Donald guilty?
  2. Was Victor right or wrong in his feelings about Donald?
  3. Why is justice so important?

Cast

Role Voice Actor
Bailiff Kurt Bruner
Bernard Walton Dave Madden
Donald Wilson Gary Reed
Eugene Meltsner Will Ryan
Miss Kingsley Ann Ault
Miss Kirston Ann Ault
Larry Finn Corey Burton
Molly Diane Michelle
Prosecuting Attorney Corey Burton
Mr. Sanders Steve Bridges
Victor Laslic Pete Reneday
Mrs. Littleton Bonnie Reed


Notes

Trivia
Allusions
  • There's a brief reference to "Mr. Goodwrench"; a reference to the long-running brand name for General Motors' Mr. Goodwrench auto repair service brand (known since 2011 as GM Certified Service).

Quotes

Bernard Walton: Now wait a minute! Hold it! There will be no name-calling here, you bonehead.


Eugene Meltsner: Ah, you smell that Mr. Walton? The smells of juries past coming into this very room to participate in the American judicial system.
Bernard Walton: I think you're confusing justice with floor wax.


Victor Laslic: You know Eugene, don't you?
Bernard Walton: Eugene... yeah, I've seen him around.
Victor Laslic: Well, what is it going to take to get him to change his mind?
Bernard Walton: Surgery.


Bernard Walton: Eugene, the next time you nominate me the foreman of anything, our friendship is over.
Eugene Meltsner: Understood.


Bernard Walton: Let's see. We have eleven votes of guilty, and one vote of... it says: I am undecided at this... I can't read this scrawl... Undecided at this...
Eugene Meltsner: Juncture.
Bernard Walton: …Juncture, but my inclinations are that the defendant is not guilty.


Bernard Walton: Not that I would wish this on anyone, but we have to listen to Eugene. He's... right. All twelve of us have to agree. That's the law.


Bernard Walton: There is nothing worse than cold pot-roast. The gravy gets all rubbery.


Victor Laslic: Aren't you tired of these gangs running around, getting away with this kind of stuff? Why don't we convict this kid and show the rest of 'em that they can't do it. Come on, let's send a message.
Eugene Meltsner: And if he's innocent?
Victor Laslic: That's the price he pays for hanging around with criminals. And if we let criminals roam around free, then pretty soon this town will be afraid to walk the streets alone. Is that what you want for our town?
Eugene Meltsner: I'm sorry, Victor, but what I want is irrelevant to what we've been called here to do: discern the truth and render a fair verdict. Yes, I'd like to send a message, but the message I want to send is: our system of justice works.