damon@umbc2.umbc.edu (Damon Kelley; (RJE)) (01/16/90)
I just wanted to inform the readers of this list that Robert T. Morris of Arnold, Maryland is going to trial this January 16, 1990 for unleashing (was it "The Great Internet Worm?") a worm that immobilized a certain computer network in November of 1988. Mr. Morris is a student who was suspended from Cornell University because of his actions. When I read the article that I got the above information from, I was a bit shocked that the jurors were deliberately picked by the U.S. Justice Department lawyers because didn't know *anything* about computers. Would the jurors understand enough of the computer talk thrown between defense and prosecutor to reach a truly informed verdict? My mother and I discussed the issue. I said that the trial would be unbalanced and handled badly because every little techie term would have to be explained over and over again to the jury, slowing down the trial process. Isn't a "jury of his peers" called for here? She said that the trial would be more impartial if the jury is composed of non-tech persons. Comments? Does the Justice Department have a prejudice against computer enthusiasts? Perhaps so. In the article I read, the lawyers excluded persons who owned computers, but included persons whose jobs involved "pushing buttons," such as flight reservation clerks and insurance claim processors. Those lawyers better straighten up. Not all computer enthusiasts practice regularly what Mr. Morris did, nor do they openly encourage the wanton destruction of computer systems "for a kick." Source: _The_Baltimore_Evening_Sun_, January 15, 1990. Section D, top of page 2: "'Illiterates' Judging Computer Genius." The information in the first two paragraphs is selected bits, not direct quotes, so don't bother to flame me. DISCLAIMER: The information above does NOT represent the views of any organization, group, man, woman, beast, insect, microbe, matter, energy, etc. existing in all the planes of reality known/not known! To assume that this information is more than the sputterings of the author is stupidity on your part. Damon (@umbc.bitnet) (@umbc2.umbc.edu) (...@umbc5.umbc.edu [uucp. Guess a path...] )