Opinion: Sex Is Different, Under The Law

By Norm Pattis – I’ve been practicing law just long enough to know that I will never make sense of it all. It’s not that I am stupid, although my shortcomings are certainly an issue. The larger truth is that the law is irrational. It bumps, grinds and gyrates in ways that simply make no sense.

This is especially true in criminal cases alleging sexual misconduct.

Suppose a man is accused of rape. He is, of course, presumed innocent, but the details of his arrest are made public. In the eyes of many, he is condemned by mere accusation. We know the shaming power of a public accusation. Indeed, we know how devastating it is to be an accuser. Hence, in court proceedings, the alleged victim is accorded every courtesy: her name is kept from public view. Even if she testifies, the court engages in elaborate choreography to make sure her name is never mentioned aloud. Full Article

 

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oh, I soooo agree. I had 5 charges pending against me. The alleged victim flat out lied during the preliminary hearing! They caught it! Then, another alleged victim was supposed to exist! She never showed up and my attorney showed that she was flat out lying! She and an alleged witness both supposedly moved out of the country and were no where to be found thereafter! All charges where eventually dismissed and I plead to a wobbler that has since been dismissed with summary probation! Its a joke. Prior to this my attorney was dealing with another rape case where a young man was accused or raping an ex. They offered him 3 years the day of the trial. Later that day, the accuser’s aunt admitted they were together after the alleged fact and it was found the accuser had accused an ex bf as well! ALL charged where dismissed and nothing happened to the accuser! She just almost ruined this guys life and nothing happened