Almost daily, there is a public outcry in response to accusations and allegations concerning a celebrity, often an athlete. Although innocent until proven guilty is the law, the reverse is frequently reality: those accused are presumed guilty until proven innocent.

I subscribe to the Dallas Morning News, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal. In today’s editions, there are more than a dozen articles about several persons who have been severely criticized, accused, or indicted. They are:

o Jerry Sandusky (convicted and now in prison) and Joe Paterno (forced to resign and since deceased) in the football program at Penn State

o Danny Ferry, general manager of the Atlanta Hawks (who has taken a leave-of-absence)

o Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots (now being tried for homicide)

o Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens (suspended indefinitely)

o Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings (deactivated)

o Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL (currently under great pressure to resign)

o Lawrence B. Cohen, M.D. who performed an endoscopy procedure for Joan Rivers (has stepped down as medical director and no longer associated with clinic)

However different they and their circumstances may be in most respects, except for Sandusky, they have this in common: due process had not/has not as yet been completed.

So, I suggest that we await the completion of that process for each of them as well as for anyone else accused of anything. Moreover, I suggest we keep in mind that a judge’s or jury’s decision of Not Guilty does not mean that the defendant is innocent. Rather, that the prosecution has not proven guilt beyond reasonable doubt.