Earlier today, I did something I should have known better than to do. I posted a message saying that I didn't think Alec Baldwin should be charged in the matter of the shooting on the set of his movie, Rust. And I still think there's a massive hole in the case if even after a year-long investigation, no one can explain how live ammo got into the gun or even onto the set.
But I got a number of calm, well-reasoned messages that, while they didn't convince me he should be charged, did convince me I should know more about the case before I decide he should. And that reminded me of all the times in the past that I've felt that "armchair juries" — people watching from afar who haven't heard all the facts and both sides — have made their minds up too quickly about legal cases. So I decided to withdraw my opinion and have removed the message.
My position is now that I need to know more about the case if I'm going to form an opinion. And that's a big "IF" because, as I often do with trials that people watch as distant spectators, I may decide I don't need to form an opinion at all.