miscarriage of justice
Court fails innocence
A miscarriage of justice is a court decision that convicts an innocent person or lets a guilty one go free.
The phrase implies the legal system failed in its fundamental purpose: After DNA evidence exonerated him, the governor acknowledged the miscarriage of justice.
It can also describe grossly disproportionate sentences or procedural failures that undermine a fair outcome.
Fresh court proceeding
- appealFormal review request
- overturnedTurned upside down
- judicial reviewCourts invalidating unconstitutional acts
- new evidenceRecently obtained proof
rehearing · remand · vacated · quashed · reopened · legal challenge · appellate court · post-conviction
Free from moral wrong
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- false accusationUntrue claim of wrongdoing
- vindicationClearance of blame
- clearedFound not guilty
acquittal · overturned · DNA evidence · compensation · pardon · release · stigma · victim
Lying while legally sworn
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
- prosecutorial misconductImproper actions by state attorneys
- suppressed evidenceFacts deliberately hidden from proceedings
- coerced confessionStatement obtained through pressure
tunnel vision · withheld evidence · negligence · malpractice · due process · junk science · police misconduct · planted evidence
Judicial examination of claims
- verdictOfficial court decision
- juryLegal decision-making body
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defenseProtection against harm
judge · testimony · evidence · courtroom · defendant · attorney · cross-examination · indictment
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- inequityUnfair distribution or treatment
racism · classism · oppression · favoritism · disparity · exploitation · marginalized · disenfranchised
retrial
Fresh court proceeding
- appealFormal review request
- overturnedTurned upside down
- judicial reviewCourts invalidating unconstitutional acts
new evidence · rehearing · remand · vacated · quashed · reopened · legal challenge · appellate court · post-conviction · habeas corpus
innocent
Free from moral wrong
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- false accusationUntrue claim of wrongdoing
- vindicationClearance of blame
cleared · acquittal · overturned · DNA evidence · compensation · pardon · release · stigma · victim · tarnished
false testimony
Lying while legally sworn
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
- prosecutorial misconductImproper actions by state attorneys
- suppressed evidenceFacts deliberately hidden from proceedings
coerced confession · tunnel vision · withheld evidence · negligence · malpractice · due process · junk science · police misconduct · planted evidence · rush to judgment
trial
Judicial examination of claims
- verdictOfficial court decision
- juryLegal decision-making body
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defense · judge · testimony · evidence · courtroom · defendant · attorney · cross-examination · indictment · plea
bias
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
inequity · racism · classism · oppression · favoritism · disparity · exploitation · marginalized · disenfranchised · reform
- legal appealslegal appeal, appeal process, appeals court, appeal courts, higher court
- appealsappeal, appellate court, court rulings, case law, legal precedents
- Dreyfus AffairDevil's Island, Emile Zola, forged documents
miscarriage of justicefair trial
Impartial judicial proceeding
due process · justice served · fair hearing · justice · vindication
miscarriage of justicerule of law
Supremacy of established laws
judicial integrity · justice · just society · accountability · legal protection
justice, adjust, justify, unjust, adjustment, injustice, justly, miscarriage, unjustified