Lawyering up and going to court is often a big deal, with plenty riding on the outcome. Although winning a case brings lots of relief — especially for those accused of more serious crimes — that doesn’t always mean life can just slide back to normal.
Reputations can be ruined and a positive outcome in court doesn’t necessarily equate with innocence in the eyes of society. An online community discusses times when people may have walked out of court victorious but still lost big time in the “Court of Public Opinion”.
1. Michael Jackson
Although the “King of Pop” was never found guilty of any wrongdoing, years later, even after his death, he’s still believed by many to have been abusive to young children. One online commenter said, “All you have to do is read the contents of the raid that happened on his property to realize he was a *** creep.”
2. O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson was involved in one of the most sensational trials of the 20th century. Although he was acquitted of murder, public opinion of the former NFL never recovered, with plenty of netizens believing he was only successful in court because of slick lawyering, racist undertones, and an “investigation [that] was completely botched by the LAPD.”
3. Ken McElroy
Nicknamed the “town bully” of Skidmore, MO, McElroy had a string of indictments, ranging from arson, burglary, and assault to animal cruelty, statutory rape, and livestock rustling. Although he dodged conviction many times, locals eventually took matters into their own hands.
4. Jennifer Connell
In 2015, Connell was labeled the “Worst Aunt Ever” after seemingly suing her young nephew for breaking her wrist. Despite public outrage, it turned out that insurance companies began proceedings as a way of getting money to cover the loving aunt’s medical bills.
5. Stella Liebeck
Another case that involved someone wanting their medical expenses covered involved Stella Liebeck, an older lady who burnt herself with a cup of McDonald’s coffee. When the media got a whiff of this, public reactions included ridicule, disbelief, and anger over someone supposedly trying to cash in on their accident.
One user commented, “She won in court, but the smear campaign still made her a joke in the public’s eye.”
6. George Zimmerman
Zimmerman made media waves in the early 2010s when he was accused and subsequently acquitted of murder. One forum user wryly remarked, “It’s crazy how you get away with killing someone for wearing a hoodie”.
7. Brock Turner
Although Turner was convicted of sexual assault, the incredibly lenient sentence made him a courtroom winner when it came to paying for his crime. This appalled many people and led to the sentencing judge being removed from office.
Following his release and name change, one forum commentator said, “My university student organization actually put out a PSA about it since he’s close enough he could come to a bar near our campus.”
8. Kyle Rittenhouse
Americans were divided in the Rittenhouse verdict, with some favoring the idea of self-defense and others wanting him punished. Although Rittenhouse walked free from court, his name is still tarnished. One user explains, “Law says he acted in self-defense. The social contract says you don’t bring a gun to a tense situation.
People who think he’s guilty are operating on the social contract aspect. He may be innocent, but the court of public opinion has labeled him a dumb *** for showing up to a left-wing protest with right-wing attitudes.”
9. Casey Anthony
Anthony stood trial in 2011, accused of killing her daughter back in 2008. She was acquitted after almost six weeks of testimony and evidence. In an online discussion about people who lost in the court of public opinion, one forum user answers, “OJ Simpson and Casey Anthony immediately come to mind.
Both found not guilty of murder, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who doesn’t think they’re a murderer”.
10. Lizzie Borden
A historic case from the 1890s, Borden was accused of axe murdering her father and stepmother. Although acquitted, she was ostracized by her community and, to this day, many people think of her as a killer. Internet users discussed “hinky business regarding the trial and investigation” and vicious nursery rhymes based on the case.
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Andrew Herrig is a finance expert and money nerd and the founder of Wealthy Nickel, where he writes about personal finance, side hustles, and entrepreneurship. As an avid real estate investor and owner of multiple businesses, he has a passion for helping others build wealth and shares his own family’s journey on his blog.
Andrew holds a Masters of Science in Economics from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has worked as a financial analyst and accountant in many aspects of the financial world.
Andrew’s expert financial advice has been featured on CNBC, Entrepreneur, Fox News, GOBankingRates, MSN, and more.
