All the spoilers are in my post...we're spoiling this, right?
In my paralegal class last semester, my professor stressed that the legal code of ethics is the MINIMUM standard of practice. One shouldn't want to figure out how to meet the standard by the least amount possible to achieve their result. Many of the people involved here on the prosecution side (and in the case of Brenden, his own defenders initially) fail miserably. The fact that they apparently get by shows how much that the system is rigged depending on where you are. On twitter I said that if you are outraged by this show, keep in mind that the judges and the prosecutors here were probably elected or appointed by Republicans. Elections matter and as much as we treat the judiciary as isolated from politics, that isn't how it is practiced. Ideology affects results in the legal system.
It isn't as relevant to this case because ultimately the police weren't on trial (though they probably should have been), but both with cases of police misconduct and with rape cases, I'm wondering if our system that gives government the monopoly of prosecution is a failure. It's nice that the government is there to put its heft behind prosecution, but when they aren't committed to getting a guilty verdict (Tamir Rice), it would be nice if a victim (or their family) could put money behind making sure a case goes forward properly. These prosecutors can choose not to even try things, or if they try them, can basically sabotage the case to keep it from going to trial.
Aside from my general thoughts about the legal system (this career I'm getting into is gonna kill me, huh?) if I were a juror, and assuming the show is relatively fair in its editing, there's no way I don't see reasonable doubt in the case. Where's motive? How do the established facts, if taken at face value, lead to a logical crime (it was powerful to me when they ask why she'd be transported in the vehicle if he was apparently hurting her in the house, killing her in the garage and burning her right outside of both. And where is the blood if any of this happened. It's a weak case even without the framing potential. The case against Brendan is even weaker. For me the moment they start suggesting what happens I disregard the entire confession. Gotta teach these cops how to do their job by assuring they never get prosecutions when they don't do it properly.
Yeah, pretty pissed and pessimistic, but that's why I want to get into this business, to do my little part to hopefully help.