What if you had a brother who was retarded, and the law had accused him of something you knew he was not capable of doing? What would you do? Other than hire the best damn lawyer around, does any thing come to mind?
I have plans. Everyone has a line, and we’ve spent some time talking about our line in our family. Sometimes you fight. Sometimes you run.
Now, let’s talk about the specifics. So much of this depends on what the charges are, and what I know about my brother. I mean, are we talking about someone writing a speeding ticket to someone who can’t drive?
Is my brother in my personal care? Can he take care of himself? All these things come in to play.
But, worst case scenario: Let’s say there is a real possibility of jail time, and you have definitive proof that your brother didn’t do it, but you fear a corrupt judge or jury.
You get your brother the hell away. You leave. Nothing here worth risking your brother for. You make a plan, and you follow it. The legal process is both slow and lenient in the beginning. You need hours to cross the border. You should have days, if not weeks.
I am advocating breaking the law. Because at some point, the stakes become too high to trust a corrupt system to get it right.
This reminds me a lot of Acts 12:17: But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, [Peter] described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” Then he left and went to another place.
He went to another place… has there ever been a more intentionally vague sentence written? Peter’s been the star of the show until now, suddenly the narrative shifts, and Peter’s whereabouts are a closely-guarded secret (c.f. 1Pet 5:13) for the rest of his life.
A man protects the innocent, even at much cost to himself.
Looks around for JACIII…
Evil people acting in an evil system can and will do evil things to innocent people.