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Genarlow Wilson is finally set free
cnn.com — Georgia's legal system finally pulls its head out of its ass.
allenjd- 770 diggs
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- Pluckie, on 11/01/2007, -3/+71it's about ***** time
- dorkino, on 10/27/2007, -7/+4i see the pun!
- rspeed, on 10/27/2007, -1/+2Maybe if he had said "it's about sucking time"
- dorkino, on 10/27/2007, -7/+4i see the pun!
- ckilby, on 11/01/2007, -2/+35Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker is a prick
- thesoze, on 10/26/2007, -5/+1bet he's a true white Southerner-dangerous
- Otto, on 10/26/2007, -2/+1I'm blocking you for being an ignorant jackass. Yes, the Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker is a complete ass, but that doesn't give you the right to make ignorant racist comments.
- saifatlast, on 10/29/2007, -1/+3>>the Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker is a complete ass, but that doesn't give you the right to make ignorant racist comments.
No, it's the first amendment that does that.
- saifatlast, on 10/29/2007, -1/+3>>the Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker is a complete ass, but that doesn't give you the right to make ignorant racist comments.
- adrianmonk, on 10/27/2007, -0/+0What's a Southerner-dangerous? And are white ones worse than other Southerner-dangerouses?
- Otto, on 10/26/2007, -2/+1I'm blocking you for being an ignorant jackass. Yes, the Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker is a complete ass, but that doesn't give you the right to make ignorant racist comments.
- thesoze, on 10/26/2007, -5/+1bet he's a true white Southerner-dangerous
- thelastcivilian, on 11/01/2007, -1/+56This is welcome news. When they change a law because of YOUR case, but don't even apply it retroactively to YOU... that was *****.
- VanillaStarfish, on 10/26/2007, -3/+0Who's the ***** that dugg you down? Crazy bastard.
- lickwid, on 11/01/2007, -12/+15Crazy southerners and their crazy laws...glad he finally got out. B.J. Bernstein is seriously a Saint. She's been on this case helping him since pretty much the beginning. Huge props to her. And the crazy thing, she's White in a hugely segregated area in the South.
- patrickloggins, on 10/27/2007, -0/+13Metro Atlanta/Forsyth County isn't highly segregated. It's pretty damn integrated.
...and I think I speak for all people from the south when I say that it's rude to call us crazy. Yeah, there's still rednecks, but not where I live. - BowZzer, on 10/27/2007, -3/+5Anyone think its just a coincidence that Wilson's attorney's name in BJ?
- patrickloggins, on 10/27/2007, -0/+13Metro Atlanta/Forsyth County isn't highly segregated. It's pretty damn integrated.
- CyberSally, on 11/01/2007, -2/+13Took them long enough.
- wicketr, on 11/01/2007, -2/+12Free at last! Free at last!
- wilhoitm, on 10/26/2007, -3/+3Thank God Almighty! He is Free At Last!
- arusso, on 11/01/2007, -2/+11I'm glad this kid finally got set free, it was indeed cruel and unusual punishment...
- trer, on 11/01/2007, -3/+39Still 2 years of his life that he'll never get back. The time between age 19 until age 21 is such a dynamic period of a young person's life, and he had to spend it in prison. That is sad and he should be compensated for all the lost opportunity (he could have had several academic and athletic scholarships).
- Midvicious, on 10/27/2007, -3/+7Yes, it really is sick. The whole purpose was to destroy him. This is commonplace, especially in the south.
- crawf061, on 10/28/2007, -2/+1This is commonplace? That is the most ridiculous thing I have read so far in the comments... and that is really saying something.
Contrary to popular belief the South has progressed from the 60s.- adrianmonk, on 10/28/2007, -2/+0Meanwhile, apparently wherever Midvicious is from, they haven't progressed and they still like to pick some random other part of the country to look down upon, probably so they can make themselves feel better about their own shortcomings.
- crawf061, on 10/28/2007, -2/+1This is commonplace? That is the most ridiculous thing I have read so far in the comments... and that is really saying something.
- Midvicious, on 10/27/2007, -3/+7Yes, it really is sick. The whole purpose was to destroy him. This is commonplace, especially in the south.
- dlm85, on 11/01/2007, -3/+20This is great news.
Did anyone else notice wording of the 4th paragraph? Was it intentional?
Wilson's attorney, B.J. Bernstein, told CNN she is working to gain his quick release, which could come "some time today."- bullhead2007, on 11/01/2007, -1/+12I caught that too. Looks like the person who wrote or edited the article is a cunning linguist.
- KnightWhoSaysNi, on 10/26/2007, -2/+1Yes, but I am a Master Debater.
- Shorties, on 11/01/2007, -1/+7I was just floored by her name, what an perfect name for this case.
- saifatlast, on 10/26/2007, -5/+1an perfect name? I'm really just curious, is that a typo? If it's not, why "an"?
- crawf061, on 10/26/2007, -0/+1I'm sure the digg comment system parsed out "amazingly"...
- saifatlast, on 10/26/2007, -5/+1an perfect name? I'm really just curious, is that a typo? If it's not, why "an"?
- bullhead2007, on 11/01/2007, -1/+12I caught that too. Looks like the person who wrote or edited the article is a cunning linguist.
- Neiby, on 10/27/2007, -15/+10What still pisses me off is that there are still people arguing that he should still be in jail! What the ***** is wrong with these inbred ***** down there? I swear to god...I hope I never, ever have to visit Georgia for any reason. What a piece of ***** State. I'm sure the people there are good people, in general, but your leadership is totally *****.
- azprofessional, on 10/27/2007, -7/+8They'll ***** a pig, but by golly don't let black teens have consentual sex.
- centran, on 10/27/2007, -5/+14I hate to pull the race card but I think it might be because he is black and the girl he "molested"(***** courts) was white.
- Machuse, on 10/27/2007, -0/+1I dont know why people dugg you down. Georgia is so twisted, im down here for college and hear crazy storys about the rules every day.
Example: I kid from my college's car was stolen (black) - it was recovered; but mistakenly put in the impound. When the police finally figured out where his car was, they still stuck him with the storage fees.
- Popdmb, on 11/01/2007, -6/+23I'm normally not a person that advocates lawsuits, but in Wilson's case, go ahead and bankrupt Georgia. Glad he's out and hope his life is put back together.
- bacon_skoda, on 10/26/2007, -0/+1minimum, $1mil for each year served.
- DRINKxREDxBULL, on 11/01/2007, -2/+22"Wilson's plight drew pleas for his release, including from former President Carter, an ex-Georgia governor, and even some of the jurors who convicted him."
People need to start learning about jury nullification. This ***** has got to stop. Juries are supposed to be the final check on government.
John Adams said of jurors: "It is not only his right but also his duty… to find the verdict according to his own best understanding, judgment, and conscience, though in direct opposition to the direction of the court."
- gregms, on 11/01/2007, -1/+6They may have done jury nullification but none of the jurors had any idea when they found it guilty, he would be sent to 10 years in prison. It was clear cut he violated the law, the only problem was the law he violated was worse than if he would have had intercourse. Several jurors felt really bad once they found out the penalty.
- Otto, on 11/01/2007, -2/+4The whole point of juries is to rule on right and wrong, not on the law itself. Any idiot capable of reading the law and understanding the facts can determine whether or not the law was broken. The *entire point* of a jury is to determine if the law is correct in this particular case and according to the moral and ethical standard of the community. If they determined that the law was unjust in this case, they should have found him not guilty, regardless of the wording of the law.
- A2TrueBlue, on 11/01/2007, -1/+2Which was not the case. The jury found him guilty, because he was, it was only after they had sent the verdict back that they found out what the sentencing guidelines for that crime were. It was then that some of the jurors became angry because they were never told what the possible sentence was.
- Otto, on 11/01/2007, -1/+1You missed my point... why did they find him guilty in the first place? What the sentence is is actually irrelevant, the question should be a matter of right vs. wrong.
I would not have found the boy guilty, even if the sentence was only a $1 fine. The sentence is irrelevant, the jury should have not considered the law to be above their own moral and ethical standards.
"Guilt" is not just whether or not the crime was committed. It also implies that you agree that it was and should be a crime. It implies that you agree with the law defining the crime. And juries are free to *ignore the law*. That's the whole purpose of a jury.
- Otto, on 11/01/2007, -1/+1You missed my point... why did they find him guilty in the first place? What the sentence is is actually irrelevant, the question should be a matter of right vs. wrong.
- A2TrueBlue, on 11/01/2007, -1/+2Which was not the case. The jury found him guilty, because he was, it was only after they had sent the verdict back that they found out what the sentencing guidelines for that crime were. It was then that some of the jurors became angry because they were never told what the possible sentence was.
- Otto, on 11/01/2007, -2/+4The whole point of juries is to rule on right and wrong, not on the law itself. Any idiot capable of reading the law and understanding the facts can determine whether or not the law was broken. The *entire point* of a jury is to determine if the law is correct in this particular case and according to the moral and ethical standard of the community. If they determined that the law was unjust in this case, they should have found him not guilty, regardless of the wording of the law.
- logosx1, on 11/01/2007, -0/+2Courts and prosecutors actively mislead jurors by telling them they must apply the law to a given set of facts, which is a bald-faced lie, and defense attorneys are prohibited from mentioning it. Jury nullification is a powerful tool that frightens the government, and it was a legitimate way to avoid this silly series of events.
- gregms, on 11/01/2007, -1/+6They may have done jury nullification but none of the jurors had any idea when they found it guilty, he would be sent to 10 years in prison. It was clear cut he violated the law, the only problem was the law he violated was worse than if he would have had intercourse. Several jurors felt really bad once they found out the penalty.
- jdoe562, on 11/01/2007, -6/+5I haven't read TFA yet, but does his sex offender status stick?
- Scrappy1850, on 11/01/2007, -4/+4TFA does, indeed, address that issue. RTFA, thank you come again.
- ianweir, on 10/26/2007, -2/+2Nope. Good thing too, because that'd screw with his life for years to come.
- centran, on 10/26/2007, -1/+4The judge said he should not be put on the sex offender list.
I think as of now he is and will continue to be. That will be another fight all together. One I am not sure he will be able to win.
- Rikushix, on 10/26/2007, -2/+3FINALLY!
- hokie47, on 11/01/2007, -2/+213 out of the 7 judges still wanted to keep him locked up. ***** them
- Balberty9, on 11/01/2007, -2/+3Did anyone else read the comments at the end of the article.....ppl saying he was guilty and should serve his time.... what a bunch of tools, yea it may be "wrong" in some peoples eyes to have underage or even out of wedlock relations but jesus, 10 years for something like that when murders and rapists get less time. all i have to say to virtually everyone on that comment list is F@#$ Y@#$%.....wait till that ***** happens to your son or you, then we'll see who's the A!@#hole
- krets, on 11/01/2007, -3/+5Did anyone read the comments? Un-*****-believable. There are quite a few people in there who think that the punishment was completely fair.
- SnuKs, on 10/26/2007, -2/+3I didn't know rednecks knew how to use the internet...
Who in the right mind thought that punishment was fair! - HonestAbe, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1Welcome to America
- SnuKs, on 10/26/2007, -2/+3I didn't know rednecks knew how to use the internet...
- morgino, on 10/26/2007, -14/+2Throw him on BET. He's a god damn hero just like the kids who beat that cracker up! Having group sex with under age girls is worthy of something in the black community isnt it? God the lack of role models is appalling.
- mikey2dope, on 10/26/2007, -1/+4You're a damn idiot. He was 17 when he had sex with a 15 year old, which is LEGAL and something MANY teens under 18 do. He's underage himself so stop acting like this is an issue that only affects the black community.
- GGzah, on 10/26/2007, -0/+1Actually, he didn't. He got a blow job from a 15 year old (which was consensual) and had sex with a 17 year old (which she claimed was rape, but a jury disagreed)
The 10 years in prison was just for the BJ because some wording in the law had considered oral sex with a minor to be an aggravated sexual assault. If he had instead had consensual sexual intercourse with the 15 year old, it would only have been a misdemeanors (up to 12 months in jail.. or something like that).
Regardless, he is not a hero, just someone who was unfairly punished. While we shouldn't necessarily revel in his actions, we should at least now recognize that he was wronged in all this.
- GGzah, on 10/26/2007, -0/+1Actually, he didn't. He got a blow job from a 15 year old (which was consensual) and had sex with a 17 year old (which she claimed was rape, but a jury disagreed)
- jon30041, on 10/26/2007, -1/+1He was 17 when he had sex with a 15 year old, he was NOT 21 at the time. They were both underage, the age discrepancy was only 2 years, it was only goddamn oral, etc.
Your head and your colon need to part ways. It's just not good for you.
- mikey2dope, on 10/26/2007, -1/+4You're a damn idiot. He was 17 when he had sex with a 15 year old, which is LEGAL and something MANY teens under 18 do. He's underage himself so stop acting like this is an issue that only affects the black community.
- weside, on 10/26/2007, -3/+2I bet the first thing he's gonna do is go get some head.
Deservingly so, of course. - SolarCoupons, on 10/26/2007, -2/+6Anybody pick up on his lawyers name "BJ", thats ironic.
- jaysaucer310, on 10/26/2007, -4/+2lot of racists posting
- runCMD, on 10/26/2007, -1/+1Not to mention Bigoted and foul mouthed. I tend to agree that the mandatory punishment doesn't fit the crime. But so many laws don't ...
I don't think any jurisdiction outside of Georgia has it any better though. There are some pretty whacky laws everywhere.
- runCMD, on 10/26/2007, -1/+1Not to mention Bigoted and foul mouthed. I tend to agree that the mandatory punishment doesn't fit the crime. But so many laws don't ...
- URnotheonly1, on 10/26/2007, -4/+3100% AGREE with the court! Sick bastards! Now review every case, EVERY Prisoner in the USA to (a)makes sure they are guilty (b) make sure the time fits the crime.
No reason 2 million people are locked up and 30 million people on probation or parole! People toss other peoples freedom in seconds, people are not respecting the systems and unfortunately innocent people sit in Americans jails! - neiltc13, on 10/26/2007, -6/+4This is the USA, not Georgia. Why doesn't the article/submission say Georgia, USA rather than misrepresenting it as Georgia?
- Agrajag, on 10/26/2007, -1/+2The first two words of the article are "Atlanta, Georgia". It's in the "US" section of CNN's website. How, then, is the article misrepresenting anything?
- insomniac8400, on 10/27/2007, -7/+2I'm against this only because after 2 years in jail, he probably isn't a nice person any more.
- mikey2dope, on 10/26/2007, -1/+0So he should stay in jail despite being innocent, oh and because you feel he isn't "nice" any more. How many people who aren't naturally nice are free? Should we lock them all up too?
- manicallday, on 10/26/2007, -0/+1I know that if I lost an academic scholarship to Vanderbilt I would be a bitter *****.
- jaysaucer310, on 10/26/2007, -13/+1he should be registered sex offender, likes underagepussy
- mikey2dope, on 10/26/2007, -1/+2Like I said earlier, he WAS underage when he had sex with that girl. Genarlow is more of a man that half the men who post here with stupid comments. He stood for his beliefs and decided not to take a plea deal which would make him a registered sex offender because it means he would have been unable to live in the same house as his younger sister. If he laid down he would have been free, but marked. He should be compensated for the STATE'S ignorance.
- URnotheonly1, on 10/26/2007, -2/+3Nifong is common practice in the USA.
- rshaan, on 11/01/2007, -6/+2a true case of 'mother ***** what the *****'
- onedoubles, on 10/27/2007, -2/+7Check out this e-mail chain from Rep Dan Lakly - shocking:
Yes! A corrupt court overturned a legal and binding sentence on a 4 to 3 vote! I would hardly call that vindication. You are a sad example of a so called caring individual! Holding various political offices for 16 years is more than you have accomplished in your twisted and probably demented life!
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 3:16 PM
Subject: RE: Genarlow Wilson Freed by Ga. Supreme Ct
Mr. Lakly,
Thankfully there are people of reason in our government. You sadly are not one of them, and I look forward to the day that you are booted out of office and looked down on with complete scorn. This is vindication of the fact that you are an out of touch 'dinosaur' that would be better served working as a janitor in a mental hospital as opposed to working in the halls of government.
Regards,- crawf061, on 10/26/2007, -0/+1Shocking! He is a human that defends himself against personal insults!
- thesoze, on 10/26/2007, -2/+7americans are so prude about sex....the whole world is laughing at us...
- thesoze, on 10/26/2007, -2/+1yes!
- ZenMojo, on 10/26/2007, -0/+2I'm always warmed and comforted by laws securing black boys the right to get head from white girls. This is America!
- PixelPete, on 10/26/2007, -1/+0Yet another dumbass remark. What are you, like 6 years old? I'm surprised you can hold a mouse correctly, or even use a keyboard.
For over 100 years, the law allowed White Men (Slave Owners) to rape, kill & defile Black Women..but only TODAY...after the Genarlo case.... you just got "comforted'.
Go kill Yourself.
- PixelPete, on 10/26/2007, -1/+0Yet another dumbass remark. What are you, like 6 years old? I'm surprised you can hold a mouse correctly, or even use a keyboard.
- Homura, on 10/26/2007, -3/+3YES! YES! YES!
I was so outraged about this for quite a while, I guess I still am, but this thing was on my mind even yesterday! YES!
He deserves to be free so badly. He shouldn't have been in for two years.
I made a comment regarding this, yesterday. Yes-ter-day. I'm so glad he's out. - skyfire1, on 10/26/2007, -4/+2This is pure *****. He shouldn't have been locked up in the first place. Land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy!
- SovereignGFC, on 10/26/2007, -2/+1Took them long enough. The law was designed to protect minors against being taken advantage of, but clearly this was not the case in this situation.
- davester, on 10/26/2007, -2/+4Stupid law: how can you be convicted if a) consentual and b) both under 18?
You can't stop kids from f-cking. You just have to teach them to how to be responsible!- cracovian, on 10/26/2007, -0/+0Didn't Clinton tell the whole nation that oral sex is not considered sex?
- necbone, on 10/26/2007, -3/+1this ***** is sooooooooooo ***** up..... if you're in high school, you should be able to hook up with other high skool kids....WTF.....i know why this happened....
- HotWingBias, on 10/26/2007, -2/+4I can't believe anyone would want to keep him locked up. It was CONSENSUAL! When I was 15 I did all sorts of consensual things with my 17 year old boyfriend.
How about we save all this "locking up" for the sick sacks of ***** who don't ask for consent? - lhughey, on 10/26/2007, -2/+3Its sad when an A student and good athlete gets his life ruined by the egos of others. I've been watching this case for a while now with a very heavy heart. I'm very glad that he was released. This was a truly shameful case.
- skews13, on 10/26/2007, -1/+1the kkk(modern day conservative wasp's),lose another one.keep 'em on the ropes people.marginalize these bastards at every turn in the road.
- manicallday, on 10/26/2007, -2/+3I would like to give a big ***** you to Sharpton, Jackson and everyone who supported the Jena 6. With you this man's release could have happen a lot sooner, but you were too busy defending ***** thugs instead. So ***** you.
- logosx1, on 10/26/2007, -1/+0I'm glad that he's not going to serve the ridiculously long sentence that was in store for him. At the same time, it would have been far better if the governor had granted a pardon, which he has the power to do. As it stands, though, the Georgia Supreme Court did something that it lacks the power to do -- it disregarded legislation simply because of the emotional facts of a particular case. This undermines the separation of powers and contributes further to the unending litigation in this country, since there's no telling what a court will do on any given day. "Hard cases make bad law," and that's exactly what happened here.
- runCMD, on 10/26/2007, -0/+0Excellent analysis.
- reb42, on 10/26/2007, -1/+1I beg to differ... the legal system still routinely inserts its head into its anal cavity, but Genarlow was able to get off when the head came up for air.
- cracovian, on 10/26/2007, -1/+0On the subject of Wilson's attorney: B.J. Bernstein... She's always gone by B.J. though she might have found her new niche.
- J4k3, on 10/26/2007, -1/+1This goes to show you that again, don't let someone suck your dick and let others find out about it, they'll only ***** you up.
- gkrodg00, on 10/26/2007, -1/+1remember this case the next time you are stuck on jury duty. the jury should have asked themselves WTF? at the time and refused to convict on such an unjust law. jury nullification is there to prevent the State from pulling these egregious acts.
- raeanin, on 10/26/2007, -1/+1Finally! I was sick to my stomach when I first read his story, I'm glad he has been released. They better also remove his sex offender status also. If I were him, I would sue the ***** out of the state.
On a side note, theres no way in hell people can deny this was a racial thing. GA needs to get their ***** together. - sb66, on 10/26/2007, -0/+1Those in power who fought against his release need to get fired and jailed themselves for being such assholes.
- onedoubles, on 10/27/2007, -0/+1Here's an e-mail chain from Rep Dan Lakly - he was adamant about keeping Genarlow in prison, and this is actually a tame response from him:
Dan Lakly [dlakly@mindspring.com]
Yes! A corrupt court overturned a legal and binding sentence on a 4 to 3 vote! I would hardly call that vindication. You are a sad example of a so called caring individual! Holding various political offices for 16 years is more than you have accomplished in your twisted and probably demented life!
-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 3:16 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: RE: Genarlow Wilson Freed by Ga. Supreme Ct
Mr. Lakly,
Thankfully there are people of reason in our government. You sadly are not one of them, and I look forward to the day that you are booted out of office and looked down on with complete scorn. This is vindication of the fact that you are an out of touch 'dinosaur' that would be better served working as a janitor in a mental hospital as opposed to working in the halls of government.
Regards,
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