[Republican Red]

NONE of the defendants are brought into the court room anymore shackled becasue of the PC fear that it will prejudice the jury.

I had to go to local Alpharetta traffic court for "crossing the gore" (the road-not AL!)

While I was waiting for my case to be called four young people, 2 guys and 2 girls, were brought into court decked out in prison stripes and shackled.

If they can shackle people in traffic court in Alpharetta why can't they shackle a violent rapist in Atlanta?

[PAR35]

If they can shackle people in traffic court in Alpharetta why can't they shackle a violent rapist in Atlanta?

Because most traffic courts just have a judge, not a jury. The judge knows the defendant is guilty, so there is no reason to put on a show. When the jury is present, they have to carry out the 'presumption of innocence'. It the same reason that you can get away with leading questions and some hearsay in front of a judge. He'll just say that he can 'separate the wheat from the chaff' if an objection is made. In front of the jury, he would have to strike the improper comments and give instruction to the jury.