The importance of due process seems to elude so many people who live in places where they have been able to take it for granted. They don't realize that without it, their freedom is extremely fragile. Without the guarantee of open trials by impartial judges, where everyone is equal under the law, an authority figure can just decide to punish you, they don't even need a reason. There is no concept of "guilty" or "innocent", there is only those who are in positions of power, and those who are not.