The Eagles' new get-tough policy at Veterans Stadium,
which Sunday included two municipal judges handing out fines
on the spot, was featured on "The News with Brian Williams."
Of the 20 people arrested at the stadium, Williams asked,
"Did those 20 defendants get real justice ... or is there a
question of their constitutional rights here being perhaps
overlooked?" Judge Seamus McCaffery, one of the judges
presiding at the stadium, and Philadelphia Bar Association
attorney Daniel Alva debated the issue. Alva, on the swift
proceedings: "I think what you'd find for the most part is
that it was a little too quick for you. ... The next thing
you knew, you were either pleading or going to trial. We'd
like to see a little bit more time put into that decision,
whether or not they wanted to proceed to trial at that
moment, ask for a continuance, get an attorney, call
witnesses, etcetera." McCaffery: "For all essential
purposes, this is not an indictable offense. This is not a
misdemeanor or a felony, and 99% of these cases, the
individuals don't go to jail. This is strictly a fine, it's
a summary citation, end of story" (MSNBC, 11/25).
