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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

City On the Witness Stand at the Kalebu Trial, the People Who Make Civilization Work

Posted by Eli Sanders on Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 1:41 PM

It's not all unmitigated horror at the Kalebu trial. I mean, just about everything that's being described is horrible, depressing, an indictment of certain humans. But you can't sit here—or, at least, I can't sit here—and get through it all without noticing some redeeming things in a courtroom that's otherwise packed with anxiety and sorrow.

One thing I've noticed in order to get through: If you pull way back, and look at the people who created this moment, and the parade of witnesses for the prosecution—just their job titles, not their names or faces—you see the component pieces of civilization, the human architecture that actually creates the conditions for abstract notions like justice and mercy and safety.

The police officer who's seen thousands of bloody crime scenes in his life, and knows the first thing you have to do at the aftermath of a chaotic stabbing is secure the area and ask: Where's the bad guy? Which way did he go? What did he look like? The firemen who wait down the block until the policemen have secured the area, then rush in, rubber gloved and blue smocked, to save and comfort whoever they can. The canine unit that tracks the scent. The emergency room physician who swabs the survivor for evidence and, for a time, with the survivor's best interests in mind, withholds the information that her partner has been killed. The coroner who autopsies the deceased. The crime lab that processes the evidence. The detectives who track down the leads. The social worker who comforts the victims' families. The Metro bus driver who notices the suspect getting off his bus. The patrol officer who races over and arrests him. The state psychiatrists who treat the suspect. The attorneys who prepare his defense. The attorneys who prepare his prosecution. The judge. The bailiff. The jury.

It's taken all of them, and many more people, nearly two years to create this proceeding: A fair trial.

It's not an easy moment to create. Our culture doesn't always create them, even when it tries. Maybe some people would say this isn't a fair trial. I don't know. But it's the attempt that creates the civilization, it's the humans who create the attempt, and it's profoundly heartening—and humbling—to watch them all in action.

(Next to the witness stand: The surviving victim. Sitting in front of me: The mother of the accused.)

Comments (22) RSS

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Excellent post Eli.

Posted by Mr John on June 8, 2011 at 1:51 PM

Great post...great insights.

Posted by gnossos on June 8, 2011 at 1:51 PM

Well said.

Posted by Vince on June 8, 2011 at 1:52 PM

All those moving parts of a tragedy that get overlooked or taken for granted. We are always focusing on and sensationalizing the suspect and the victims.

When we do focus on these servants, it's almost always glamorized and unrealistic (ala Law and Order) .

I have an uncle who was a cop in Wisconsin, 2 uncles that were paramedics/firefighters in Bellingham, and 2 cousins that are paramedics/firefighters in King County. They all have seen shit like this on a daily basis. . .I can't comprehend what that is like. It is most definitely nothing like it is portrayed to us, but it is kind of a miraculous thing when it all works.

Nice blurb, Eli.

Posted by Pithy Name on June 8, 2011 at 1:56 PM

Eli, you have made me weep. Thank you for trying to make sense out of the senseless. You are very strong to sit through all this. Please take care of yourself.

Posted by Lissa on June 8, 2011 at 2:00 PM

Really, really good stuff. This is what civilization IS.

Posted by Fnarf

on June 8, 2011 at 2:04 PM

Beautifully written. Sad and touching.

Posted by Allyn on June 8, 2011 at 2:05 PM

I've been a juror a couple of times, and on balance it's boosted my faith in the system.

Posted by Prettybetsy on June 8, 2011 at 2:10 PM

The opening of the book you'll write on this?

Well said.

Posted by Timothy on June 8, 2011 at 2:13 PM

Most worthwhile post I've ever seen on Slog and the best description of our justice system I've ever seen.

Posted by Centrists Rule the World today on June 8, 2011 at 2:13 PM

All true. It's so coarse and degraded how casually people talk about the evils of government, government waste, fraud, incompetence etc. The professionalism in a case like this is exceptional. And it's exceptional that this kind of professionalism is fairly common in the U.S.

Posted by Hosono on June 8, 2011 at 2:18 PM

Agreed. Great post, and a powerful indictment of the deeply uncivil and destructive departmental budget cuts being enacted, as we speak, in every state capital in the country. Corporate tax breaks and the need to be "business-friendly" should NEVER get precedence over the basic blocks of our society.

Posted by schmacky on June 8, 2011 at 2:20 PM

Thanks, I needed that.

Posted by good vagina on June 8, 2011 at 2:21 PM

I sat on a jury a few months ago, and came away with profound respect for the many individual faces that make up what we often think of as a faceless system. It was a privilege to participate, and to realize that so much of civilization is built on the very human premises of fairness, taking care of others, and doing what is right.

Posted by Irena on June 8, 2011 at 2:42 PM

So wonderful. Thanks for doing this.

Posted by David Schmader on June 8, 2011 at 3:10 PM

Completely agree with the other commenters. Simply exceptional writing.

Like 8 and 14, I found my time in a juror's box to be a rewarding and even patriotic experience and remain confounded as to why it seems to be a national obsession to get out of jury duty.

Posted by I Got Nuthin' on June 8, 2011 at 3:26 PM

Thanks a lot, Eli, you made me cry.

Fantastic post, by the way.

Posted by Geni on June 8, 2011 at 3:45 PM

Just adding my voice to the chorus.

Wonderful post, Eli. Every word rings true, and it resonates so strongly precisely because you outline truths that are rarely spoken of or even acknowledged.

The building blocks of civilization, indeed.

Posted by merry on June 8, 2011 at 4:24 PM

Great job, Eli. Thank you for being a part of the system, too: the reporter who fairly and respectfully imparts the details of the case.

Posted by starsandgarters on June 8, 2011 at 4:59 PM

See people? Paying taxes CAN be a good thing!

Posted by Mrs Jarvie on June 8, 2011 at 5:56 PM

Really good work, Eli. I especially like:

"The police officer who's seen thousands of bloody crime scenes in his life, and knows the first thing you have to do at the aftermath of a chaotic stabbing is secure the area and ask: Where's the bad guy? Which way did he go? What did he look like?"

I always try to remember that in discussions about police work.

Posted by Michael Wells on June 8, 2011 at 8:46 PM

When I came into my occupation in law enforcement, I had no idea what to expect. I already knew that cops were a rare breed and I wasn't sure if I liked them all that much. After 7 years at this agency, I realize I work around and with the best people in the best "business" that I've ever worked in throughout my life. People who can hold themselves together under extreme circumstances through some horrifically ugly ordeals and still come to work every day to do it again never cease to amaze me. I know I could never work as a police officer now that I've seen what they go through. They are extremely unique individuals.

Between the hard work of our cops and the integrity and transparency that is mandated by the top of our command staff, I am an extremely proud member of the King County Sheriff's Office.

Posted by eaglespirit54 on June 10, 2011 at 2:54 PM