MacDonald suffered from very bad judges in his case, who were involved in corrupt bias and judicial corruption rather than a fair trial. They accepted fabricated evidence and they were clearly erroneous. The 4th Circuit judges and Supreme Court were not much better. They were merely rubber stampers. There was a good Australian criminal trial judge called Sir Joseph Hood in the past, and Judge Carnes in the JonBenet Ramsey case in America gets it right. MacDonald needed an excellent court. There is a bit of legal waffle on the internet about what it takes to be a good judge at:
https://www.apursuitofjustice.com/th...-a-good-judge/