Too often the gears of justice fail to move with "all deliberate speed,'' as was called for in 1954 in the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education school desegregation decision. But the swiftness with which Baltimore's chief prosecutor moved this week to find probable cause to charge six police officers in connection with the death of Freddie Gray should boost public confidence in the system's ability to move efficiently and judiciously.

Those demonstrating for fairness and justice, including students and others here in the Twin Cities, should feel that their voices have been heard. Now the facts of what happened will be heard in a court of law.

State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby declared that Gray's death was a homicide, and on Friday she brought charges alleging that the six officers illegally arrested, assaulted and falsely accused the 25-year-old of carrying an illegal weapon. He was handcuffed and then hoisted into the metal compartment of a police van without the seat belt that is required for the safety of both detainees and officers.

The stiffest charge — second-degree "depraved heart" murder — was filed against the driver of the police van. The other five were charged with a range of crimes, including manslaughter, assault, false imprisonment and misconduct in office. "Mr. Gray suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained inside of the BPD [Baltimore Police Department] wagon, " Mosby said. Gray died from injuries he received while in police custody.

Predictably, the Baltimore police union president sent a letter to Mosby before the charges were filed, saying that none of the six suspended officers was responsible for Gray's death. That claim will now be judged, as it should be, in a court.

As many Baltimore officials noted on Friday, the charges are but one step in the legal process toward resolution. Charges are not convictions. In the 1994 videotaped beating of Rodney King, several Los Angeles officers were charged. However, months later they were all acquitted, sparking demonstrations, rioting and looting in that city.

For now, Americans can see that the legal system is moving expeditiously to do its job in Baltimore. As Mosby said in an interview Friday, justice must be applied fairly and equally to everyone — including those with "badges and guns.''