On Tuesday, the state released the names of the jurors who acquitted Casey Anthony of first-degree murder charges.
Why is this big news? Because it has been almost three months since the jury gave its verdict in the case.
Is our country really that screwed up?
Why did the judge want to grant a three-month "cooling-off period" before the names were released?
Because, when it comes to some rulings by the justice system in this country, occasionally people have the urge to whip out the torches and pitchforks.
Yes, it's the 21st century, but the ancient mob mentality still exists.
After a jury of her peers found Anthony not guilty, social media went insane. People were mad, upset, frustrated, distraught and even sad, claiming that no justice was granted for 2-year-old Caylee Anthony.
Nancy Grace probably fainted a couple of times.
But what's more depressing than the outcome of this trial is the fact that the courts showed great concern about the safety of the jurors, and rightly so, given the threats that were received.
Did people forget that the standard for conviction in this country is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt?
For all of its flaws, our court system was designed to rely on reason, evidence and logic to determine the guilt or innocence of those on trial, not revenge.
But some out there, with no connection to the child, the parents or the defendant became so emotionally caught up in this case that they felt offended when the verdict was handed down.
Part of the blame should be placed on the media for the extensive in-depth coverage and hype placed around this case.
Yes, it is sad that a 2-year-old girl was murdered. But this case did not involve a crime against "society." It involved a crime against a little girl and her family.
The fact that it became an obsession among members of the media and even regular people is a little morbid and scary.
Let us hope that this "cooling-off period" did some good, and that none of the jurors will be harmed in the following months.
Whatever injustice you believe might have occurred during this trial pales in comparison to the injustice that would occur if one of the jurors were hurt by a disgruntled observer.
Many of us are called to jury duty at some point in our lives. There is a lot of pressure in a high-profile case like this; especially one where a person's life hangs in the balance.
Put yourself in their shoes before you begin to sharpen your pitchfork.
