Bill McCollum Quotes

A trial deals with only a limited amount of information, considering only the evidence which is available and also admissible and which relates directly to the charges on the indictment.

I think either Robert Blake wither pulled the trigger or hired someone to do it, but it will be a tough case to prove. I think there's a very good chance he may take the stand, and that's what I'm waiting for.

Scientists search for truth. Philosophers search for morality. A criminal trial searches for only one result: proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Courtroom dramas can be boring.

There is - you know, there's receipts for rented cars and license plates and guns and hand prints and palm prints and fingerprints. You know, I want to wait until I'm in a court.

If it doesn't fit, you must acquit.

A criminal should be exonerated if it is proven to the court that the blood of the victim was permitted.

Indictments don't mean anything; men are entitled to be innocent until they are proved guilty.

In the ultimate analysis, only the jury can strip a man of his liberty or his life.

After the verdict was read in the Simpson case, as the jury was leaving, one of them, I was later told, said, 'We think he probably did it. We just didn't think they proved it beyond a reasonable doubt.'

I'm not pretending when I'm in that court room.

I agree with Scott Turow: A courtroom is inherently dramatic. You walk into court - it's like an ER, you know? Life and death is going on there. And it's moment-by-moment, and it's packed with energy. And even though you think you know what a witness is going to say, you can be wrong. Witnesses surprise you.

There was never sufficient evidence presented at my trial to support a finding of intent to kill.

Some writers hate to go to trials, but I love trials.

Decisions on a matter as serious as charging an individual with a crime cannot be decided on anything less than complete examination of all available evidence. Anything less is not justice.

The defendant wants to hide the truth because he's generally guilty. The defense attorney's job is to make sure the jury does not arrive at that truth.

And, you know, like I said, I'm not looking forward to a trial.

As far as the charge against me is concerned I have a clear conscience.

For every criminal case, the judge must construct a perfect syllogism: the major premise must be the general law; the minor premise, whether or not the action in question is in compliance with the law; and the conclusion, acquittal or punishment.

All sides in a trial want to hide at least some of the truth.

I am not guilty, I am innocent.

It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.

I knew I was coming home, I thought they would consider acquittal, I was disappointed that they didn't.

Laymen ought not to be accused save by dependable and lawful accusers and witnesses.

The innocent man is always eager to give his explanation and does so at the first opportunity, and it is always to his interest so to do. But the guilty is now enabled by the law to remain mute, to learn the evidence against him, to concoct his defense pending trial, and to come into court fully acquainted with the case against him, while the district attorney only knows that the defendant has pronounced the two words "not guilty.