Justice: Why Am I Seeking It?

I have been working towards finding justice for well over 30 years—first as a prosecutor, then as a trainer of criminal justice professionals, followed by a national-level position advocating for a more effective court system, and now back in the courtroom as a prosecutor—and more. Over time, my perspective and focus on the meaning of justice and how to achieve it has evolved.  Initially, as a prosecutor, the short answer for a person who breaks the law was punishment in the form of fines and/or incarceration. As a trainer of prosecutors and an advocate for effective courts, I recognized this short-answer approach is too often insufficient. The complicated issues involving those who break the law require a comprehensive approach, taking in many factors about defendants, their crimes, and those impacted by their actions.  There is no silver bullet in reaching justice for all.

What is Justice?

After thirty years, the pursuit for justice still resonates with me, but the question, “What is Justice”, has evolved. And it is important to take it a step further: What is justice, and how do we achieve it for all? The Oxford Dictionary defines Justice as “just behavior or treatment.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says that Justice is “the quality of being just, impartial or fair.” For me, it is about treating others fairly with equality and humanity.

Pick a day, any day, and you will find injustice happening somewhere on this planet;

• Children being starved and abused;
• Domestic violence;
• Teens sold into slavery through human trafficking;
• Women stoned to death because of their feelings and thoughts;
• Men killed because of the color of their skin or their religious beliefs;
• Senior citizens beaten and robbed.

 

Nothing on this list is just or impartial or fair.  There are days when it can seem overwhelming. What can one person do about all this injustice? The short answer: Make a difference, one case at a time.

The first step in seeking justice is recognizing that each case is unique and almost always involves not only a criminal defendant, but also one or more victims. For too many years victims have been overlooked. We must recognize that they are a vital part when seeking justice for all.

The second step is to recognize that justice is not always easy and can impact more than the defendant and the victim. A mother of a young child makes the wrong choice of having too much to drink and then while driving home she runs a stop sign and kills an older man. That man was a grandfather, a father, and a husband. No matter what the sentence, the grandfather will not come back, his family will never see him again. The mother’s young child will suffer from the loss of her mother’s hugs and gentle touch as her mother sits in prison regretting her deadly choice.

Why Fight for Justice?

Why fight for justice when there is much seemingly unstoppable evil around us? The answer is simple—because it is the right thing to do:

To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do, therefore, is to strive, and persevere, and never give up – Dalai Lama, the 14th.

The goal of justice for all is a noble goal.  Thus, I choose not to remain indifferent. I choose to speak up and act. I choose to seek justice for those who do not have it.

Seeking Justice For All

While I am not speaking for the other Justice Speakers Institute Founders or Associates, I believe they too have made a similar choice.  A choice to make a difference in a child’s life and stop the beating and get them the counseling and support they need and deserve. A choice to protect a teen from being sold into slavery or a woman from being abused by her husband or a being man murdered for his skin color or his religious beliefs. We have made the choice to do the right thing for the right reasons.

It didn’t start with us, nor will it end with us.  This has been an ongoing struggle for centuries. Women and men, organizations and countries have all taken up the banner at different times and moved it forward.

Eight hundred years ago the Magna Carta was created. While focusing on the relationship between the monarch and the barons, rather than the ordinary people, it provided inspiration to many that individual freedom exists and we have the right and duty to fight for it.

Over two hundred years ago in creating the United States of America, a step was taken in seeking justice for all of its citizens, when it was declared: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Did it go far enough?  No. There have been ups and downs in the struggle, and more must be done, but the belief that we are all entitled to justice and equality remains strong and a guiding principle for this country.

In the last century, on December 10, 1948, the United Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Consisting of thirty articles, the Declaration sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. Of note is the very first sentence in the Preamble: “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, . . .”

Are You Making a Difference?

Cultural Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Will we see the end of injustice in our lifetimes?  No.  But we can raise the expectations and lower the barriers.  We can continue to strive and persevere, making a difference in the lives of the individuals we touch.

Justice for all is the goal and it is clear that people all over this planet recognize that need and continue to strive for it. Working together we can change lives for the better.

What about you?  Will you join me on this mission to make your family, your community and country, and the world a better place to live?  Let me know how in the comments below.