Though I had no intention of watching the verdict, somehow, at 2:15 yesterday, I found myself doing just that via a live feed on cnn.com.

Like virtually everyone else who has followed the trial of Florida mom Casey Anthony, I assumed a guilty verdict was a foregone conclusion. To paraphrase an old sporting adage when there is an upset, "that's why we play the games."

I thought Anthony and her lawyer looked as shocked as the rest of the world when the court clerk uttered not guilty. But a poll of the jury confirmed that in all likelihood, the woman long suspected of murdering her young daughter will likely walk out of prison a free woman tomorrow.

As a legal blogger I felt some obligation to weigh in on the Anthony verdict, yet since I followed it sporadically at best (which is to say my mother watched every minute of the trial and filled me in periodically) I didn't want to rehash what the rabid trial-watchers already knew.

Instead, the thing that most fascinated me, was the reaction via social media to the verdict. In my network on Facebook and Twitter I had legions of perfectly sane, sweet soccer moms that were absolutely losing their minds. The verdict resonated with them in a way I can't say I fully understand. As someone who hung on every word of the O.J. Simpson murder trial 16 years ago, I can appreciate the draw.

But for many of my friends on Facebook and Twitter, it was as though they took the verdict personally. It was as though they each knew Caylee, or as if Casey Anthony and her alleged deeds somehow reflected on all mothers everywhere.

In any event, I found it fascinating to see the reactions that the verdict elicited. For my two cents worth, though people may not like the verdict and they may believe Casey Anthony indeed killed her daughter, I believe the verdict was the correct one given our judicial system. People often think a defendant has to prove their innocence. In reality, they merely have to create a reasonable doubt in the mind of the jury. In this case, 12 ordinary people believed that doubt existed.

The general public also wanted to convicted Anthony in large part because of her hard partying lifestyle and carefree attitude after her daughter's disappearance. Again, while it may make her a horrible person, a lousy mother and it may leave you feeling a bit icky, it doesn't make her a murderer and in the realm of evidence, it is not going to get a conviction. Lots of bad moms don't murder their children and again, emotion aside, the case, by the prosecutions own admission, had its weak spots. It was far from a slam dunk.

Now then, back to Facebook. I just find it fascinating to see the immediate reactions that began pouring in just seconds after the verdict was read. Among some of the gems on my account (at least the ones I can print) included:

From Jim: Another sad day in the legal system. A defenseless baby, brutally murdered by one person in this world that was supposed to protect her. And they let her get away with it?! No justice for Caylee....

From my sister-in-law: apparently its okay to kill your kid in Florida

From Erin (a common sentiment among those on FB): Our justice system is seriously screwed up.

From Karyn in NH: Has lost all faith on our justice system, I'm sick and in shock!!!!!!

From my sister: This is worse than the OJ verdict...

From Stacey: Disgusting!!!!

I could go on, but you get the idea. People are outraged.

I find this interesting for two reasons. First, I think it was a good example of how social media changes everything. Back in the old days of O.J. we actually had to be near a television to watch the Bronco chase, we couldn't see it all in HD on our phone and when it came to what we thought, we actually had to be with some one and tell them, or at least call them.

Today, we can tweet, Skype and Facebook our every thought exactly six seconds after the verdict is read. I'm wondering if that is, at least partly, why the fascination and anger is so high for this case. Because we can all be so connected does it create a sort of mob mentality like what we saw yesterday?

I also find it interesting because as I said before, I disagree. I think the verdict was correct. Take the emotion away, address the facts and 12 rational people following the judge's instructions should return a verdict of not guilty.

Moms across the world may disagree, but the same justice system that set Casey Anthony free is the same one that affords each of us the right to a trial and to be judged by a jury of our peers. No verdict was going to bring the little girl back to life, but I think as the emotions settle and the smoke clears, history will look back on this verdict as the legally correct one.