Public Defender Dude has one of the best blogs around on being in the courtroom trenches. He's also in Northern California, somewhere near where the Scott Peterson trial is going on. He says in no uncertain terms that he believes Scott Peterson is going down, and explains why -- despite the lack of evidence against him, the piss-poor job the prosecution is doing and the great job Mark Geragos is doing. And his reason is not Amber Frey.

I don't share his pessimism yet--but if he turns out to be right, it may be that Scott Peterson becomes the latest victim of the media. The media focuses on guilt because guilt sells. What a sad statement of affairs for a country whose criminal justice system is grounded in the presumption of innocence.

If Public Defender Dude is right, it's Michael Skakel Redux. Once again we have the victim's family grieving on the news night after night. A prevalence of prosecution-oriented pundits proclaiming the defendant's guilt. A camera fest outside the courtroom. Witnesses with spinmeisters masquerading as legal counsel, continually grabbing the media spotlight. Well-known former cops and journalists siding with the victim's family. People Magazine and tabloids trumpeting a pretty picture of the victim week after week. And for the final touch there is always a Dorothy Moxley and Sharon Rocha, wholly good and tragic figures, just separated at birth.