Bully Pulpits and the Presumption of Innocence by J Vincent Aprile II - ABA Criminal Justice Magazine Summer 2026
A bully pulpit is a position of prominence and apparent authority that enables an individual to express and advocate an opinion on a question of international, national, regional, or local matter and be listened to. “It’s one of the axioms of political science that a political leader can exert an enormous influence over his society and its people—for better or worse.” Peter Corning, The “Bully Pulpit”: Then and Now , Inst. for the Study of Complex Studies (Mar. 5, 2019). Bully pulpit is often a reference to the American president’s platform to voice an opinion as if it were the last word on the matter. But many people may have bully pulpits in their specific arenas of prominence. A governor may have a bully pulpit at least in his or her state. Even at a more local level, lesser political officers may have effective bully pulpits. The alignment of the bully pulpit with the American presidency is not only due to the prominence of that position and its ability to influence public op...