tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098620.post111867056485248424..comments2024-03-15T04:02:42.341-04:00Comments on CrimLaw: Around the WebUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098620.post-1118676554319493642005-06-13T11:29:00.000-04:002005-06-13T11:29:00.000-04:00#12: "the degree of confidence you would want to ...#12: "the degree of confidence you would want to have in the professional skill of a physician performing life-and-death surgery on your child"<BR/><BR/>That is not the Reasonable Doubt standard. First of all, it refers to the level of competence of the person, and is more properly a question asked by a client of his attorney.<BR/><BR/>To the extent it is an expression of a legal standard of proof, it is inaccurate, since obviously one would want NO doubt whatsoever about a surgeon's skill when your child's life is at stake.<BR/><BR/>Reasonable Doubt, however, merely refers to the government overcoming any doubts about the guilt of defendant that are securely founded in reason, as opposed to sentiment ("my client is a really swell guy, ladies and gentlemen"), passion ("the victim is a real scumbag, ladies and gentlemen"), or some other improper motive.<BR/><BR/>I appreciate that this is somewhat self-referential definition, but as we all know, RD is a tough thing to define!Tom McKennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10826579789878573864noreply@blogger.com