Judge, Jury, and Executioner – Opinions From E. Curtis Johnson

We inherited “Innocent Until Proven Guilty” from English common law, not the Constitution. Innocent until proven guilty only applies us, but not to other people. Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings proves that point. Peterson was indicted on a felony injury to a child charge. Outrage ensured. As was the Viking’s contractual right, Peterson was suspended.

However, the lutefisk really hit the fan when Petersen was reinstated with a Viking’s corporate sponsor logo, The Radison Hotel, in the backdrop; which is the Radison’s contractual right. Corporate sponsor pressure will do more to change the NFL’s culture than firing Roger Godell.

My name is E. Curtis Johnson. Peterson may be found, guilty. Until that conviction, America, let’s stop pretending we believe in the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. We believe in sentencing and executing the accused as soon as an allegation hits the news and we all have a chance to give our opinion in social media. Which is the way the founding fathers would have wanted it!