The serial arsons that hit the Copake area started about 1980 and continued on well into the 1990’s. Of the resulting damages none have suffered more than my family. It wasn’t the fires, but the misuse of the Grand Jury that caused the most damage.. My son was indicted by a grand jury on 13 counts of arson. When it came time for a trial there was no usable evidence and the charges were dropped before trial. My son was never cleared. There was a cove-up and no damages were paid nor do I expect damages to be paid. It is because of that misuse of the grand jury that I hope to replace it with a hearing before a judge. The Sheriff claimed he had a confession. He should have been forced to prove it before he arrested my son.
The grand jury has been around since 1166 when King Henry II used it to consolidate his power. Britain did away with the Grand Jury in 1933 because of misuse. All other countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia have done away with it too. The only country that has the Grand Jury is the United States. Because of a ruling of the Supreme Court it is not required in State Courts. About one half of the states have replaced it with a hearing before a judge
I petitioned Senator Steven M. Saland and my Assemblyman to hold hearing on replacing the Grand Jury in New York. I would urge the readers to contact Senator Saland and their Assemblyman and urge them to grant hearings on replacing the Grand Jury.. Lawyers should no longer be able to brag; “I can indict a ham sandwich with the Grand Jury.” A judge in open court should make that decision.
Grant Dinehart Langdon
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