TRWR: Jewel’s judicial system

Graff tells Charlie that “justice isn’t always about what the law dictates. Hell, maybe it never is.” They know that if Bluestone hadn’t been Indian and if he hadn’t married a Japanese woman, the town would think of him as a hero and would not have considered him Quinn’s killer. The evidence against Bluestone is circumstantial, but compelling; Charlie has seen juries convict with less. Graff thinks Charlie will have to be “God himself to get a fair hearing for Noah Bluestone.” She tries to construct a reasonable scenario of self-defense, but it is all speculation because of the lack of cooperation from Noah and Kyoko. I believe that the sham trials of those involved in the so-called Great Sioux Uprising presages the likelihood that Noah would not receive a fair trial because of the deep-seated prejudice and racism in the county, even though that so-called uprising took place at the time of Abraham Lincoln.

I think you’ve outlined my thoughts on how the judicial system failed Noah, Nancy. It’s in large part because of the systemic racism. But Noah’s honor and wanting to protect Marta and his son also tied Charlie’s hands. I think the larger implications were that it “gave” permission to townsfolk like Creasy an excuse to vent their anger and violence and take justice into their own hands. As result, Creasy goes on a rampage that harms everyone around him – Del, the Quinn family, Kyoko and ultimately results in Noah’s death.

I find the question difficult to answer because we read about the arraignment. Still, that is enough to reveal the prejudice Nancy and Tara describe. It seems unlikely that jurors and a judge would have been willing to see past Noah’s Native heritage no matter the quality of evidence or any of the heroic contributions he has made.

While the U.S. administration tries to drags us back to the acceptance of racism in 1050s Jewel and the U.S. in general, I hope some element of tolerance will survive. Still, the judicial system will never be more just than the willingness of judges and juries to considerate only the facts.