# Why can't/shouldn't we try terrorists in the civilian criminal justice system? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 7, 2006, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-shouldnt-we-try-terrorists-in-the-civilian-criminal-justice-system/371774 "2006-09-07T12:23:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-shouldnt-we-try-terrorists-in-the-civilian-criminal-justice-system/371774/81 "2006-09-13T23:08:09Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] You’re really serious? [/quote] Yes. I’m really serious. And unlike you, I have evidence to support my belief. > [@](#): > > Look, I have no evidence here, but you don’t think that people’s career in the military can be seriously affected by things like this? So you admit you’re talking through your hat. Thanks for that admission. You should’ve stopped typing right there. > [@](#): > > Believe me, I know enough people in the military to know that the “rules” aren’t by any means all in the rule books. My heavens, I’ve been told by military friends that there are plenty of people whose careers in the military have been basically destroyed because their spouses didn’t have ‘the right attitude.’ I’m not saying that jurors would be pressured to find a defendant guilty, but I am saying that waving the rule book around is no way to refute that as a strong possibility. People are people. Some people who have power and don’t get their way like to get revenge on those under them who have thwarted them. There has never been a rule book in the world that could or did prevent that. I love FOAF stories. But then I like fiction. Usually, though, I go in for good fiction. > [@](#): > > The defending attorney has no choice in the matter, and thus will not be penalized. The juror, on the other hand, has choice as his only job in the whole process. Do you see a difference? Are you serious? The juror has as his job determining “guility” or “not guilty.” He cannot be penalized for making either choice. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-shouldnt-we-try-terrorists-in-the-civilian-criminal-justice-system/371774/82 "2006-09-13T23:13:59Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] Yes. I’m really serious. And unlike you, I have evidence to support my belief. So you admit you’re talking through your hat. Thanks for that admission. You should’ve stopped typing right there. I love FOAF stories. But then I like fiction. Usually, though, I go in for good fiction. Are you serious? The juror has as his job determining “guility” or “not guilty.” He cannot be penalized for making either choice. [/QUOTE] You showed a rule book. That takes care of the official stuff. And apparently no one in the military ever does anything whatsoever that isn’t officially dictated. So I guess you got me; what _was_ I thinking? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-shouldnt-we-try-terrorists-in-the-civilian-criminal-justice-system/371774/83 "2006-09-13T23:48:43Z")
I didn’t show a rule book. I showed a code of federal law and regulations brought into force under that law. Those who beak the law are subject to punishment. You posted a FOAF. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-shouldnt-we-try-terrorists-in-the-civilian-criminal-justice-system/371774.md?page=4)