A headline from Fox News states: “Fox News Poll: Increasing numbers think Joe & Hunter Biden did something illegal 40% think Joe Biden did something illegal in his son's business dealings” By Victoria Balara Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/official-polls/fox-news-poll-numbers-joe-hunter-biden-illegal
I must start off by stating I am not a Joe Biden fan. The reason I point this headline out is to ask the question since when does the media have the right to take a poll to determine what Americans believe about guilt or innocence of any human?
The United States constitution states “Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/fifth_amendment
While the poll does not deprive Joe Biden “of life, liberty, or property, what does it do to the due process he is to be afforded? Does it bring bias to any criminal case that may come out of the matter?
The media has a right to report news, to express opinions, not to be a vehicle for the determination of the presumed guilt or innocence of a human being and report that in a widely viewed medium. The determination of guilt or innocence is left to the legal system.
When the press encroaches on the judicial process by taking polls measuring public thought on the presumed innocence or guilt of a person it impacts a person’s right to an impartial jury. Potential jurors may well have seen the polls and not be able to be impartial since the offense is being tried in the media.
Deuteronomy 1:16-17 New American Standard Bible 1995 states: “16 “Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your [a]fellow countrymen, and judge righteously between a man and his [b]fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him. 17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear [c]man, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’”
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