Pendulum

Judge Kinsella: On your last appearance before me, Mr. Sanderson, it was my unpleasant duty to sentence you to death in the electric chair. Now, the duty I have before me now is in some respects even more unpleasant. I have no quarrel with the principle of law involved, it's a good and wise application of our constitutional guarantees, but in this case, it results in turning loose upon society a degraded and immoral person.

Judge Kinsella: [he continues] There's no doubt that in the first half of the twentieth century, we - and I mean the press and the public as well as the courts - had looked the other way as our police, in the name of law and order, showed a patent disregard for individual liberties as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. But it seems now that the pendulum is swinging a little too far the other way.

[sighs heavily]

Judge Kinsella: Well there is hope; gravity will bring it to rest at some point where the interests of both individual liberty and the community as a whole are best served. Motion is granted.