One of the jurors in the Martha Stewart trial gloated that her conviction was “a victory for the little guys who lose money in the market”.
Whether or not the government made a valid case for obstruction of justice, etc., I’m completely puzzled by this remark.
Unlike the corporate officers at Enron and Tyco, Stewart was not accused of “cooking the books”, or diverting company profits for personal expenses.
Rather, the government’s case against Martha Stewart and the jury’s “take THAT, uppity bitch” attitude has the potential to decimate a lot of “little guys”: the shareholders, employees and customers of Martha Stewart Living as well as their struggling retail partner, KMart.
I’m beginning to think that jury proceedings should be recorded and subject to the same evaluation on appeal as the actions of other participants in civil and criminal trials.
Let’s hope that the judge, who so far as shown uncommon sense, has a better handle on the consequences of jail time for Martha Stewart than some jealous yahoos with an ax to grind.