Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based Justice
Part One
The Constitution of the United States of America details several specific rights that all Americans can avail themselves in the pursuit of justice.
A few examples:
The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States includes wording that declares that no state can "…deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
The same amendment includes wording that declares no State shall "…deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law…"
The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States includes wording that declares that the Federal government cannot deprive a person "…of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law…"
This same amendment includes wording that declares that the Federal government cannot subject a person "…for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb…"
In addition, the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States includes wording that declares that no person "…shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself…"
Many Americans will say there are key principles that guide justice in the United States, including ones that they were raised to believe:
Many Americans were raised with the belief that an individual is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.
Many Americans were raised with the belief that an individual is guilty only when evidence is presented in a court of law that shows guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Many Americans were raised with the belief that it is better to set 10 guilty people free rather than imprison one innocent person.
Many Americans were raised with the belief that 'Lady Justice' is blind and impartial in determining guilt or innocence.
Many Americans were raised with the belief that the scales of justice are balanced between guilt and innocence.
At the same time, many Americans have different core beliefs about justice as it is practiced in reality, including:
Many Americans believe that only guilty people confess to a crime.
Many Americans believe that only guilty people plead guilty to a crime.
Many Americans believe that only guilty people are convicted by a court.
Many Americans believe that if a person is determined to be guilty by a court, then the person is guilty of that crime.
Many Americans believe that justice can be bought by those with power, money, and status.
Many Americans believe that if a person is determined to be not guilty by a court, then the person likely escaped justice because of a technicality.
Many Americans make their decisions about the guilt or innocence of a person based on emotion rather than logic.
Many Americans make judgments about the guilt or innocence of a person based on their personal knowledge of that person or their personal views of the aspects of that person's life.
Many Americans have ambiguous views about whether certain activities are actually crimes based on their own personal activities.
Many Americans have ambiguous views about whether a person is actually guilty or innocent of a crime based on their own personal lived experiences.
Many Americans think the worst of a person if the person is facing prosecution in court.
Zero-Based Justice is designed to better reflect the rights enshrined in the Constitution of the United States and the key principles that many Americans were raised to believe as opposed to the beliefs that many Americans hold about justice as it is practiced in reality.
The news columns in this series will focus on specific characteristics of justice as it is practiced today in many parts of the United States as well as ways that justice could be practiced through Zero-Based Justice.
Peirspictiochtai Ar A Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at
© 2026 Richard McDonough
