My first experience on a jury

[lightsout]

Got the summons a few weeks back. Been on since Monday. I guess I still can't give details just yet, as we deliberate tomorrow morning, but I will say this much for now: holy hell is this poo more complicated than I thought it'd be. But, overall, it has been a semi-enjoyable experience. Seeing our system from the inside is interesting. Kinda hope I get called again in a couple of years, and I hope the case is a bit more complex.

[TheAmericanDream]

Just remember if the glove doesn't fit you must acquit.

[pstall]

I have done it twice and the last time I was the foreman. I had a blast and kept the jurors cracking up the whole time.

 

A great way to see how things work in the US.

[Doyle]

Have the Huddle vote on what your verdict should be. 

[Guest Dark Knight]

Summoned 5 times...

Never served...

Better things to do.

[Mr. Scot]

Advice from my first stint on jury duty: Don't go to the bathroom while they're choosing a foreman.

 

i did, and when I came back I had the job :(

[Inimicus]

Almost 50

Summoned once

Never served

 

Actually disappointed.

[lightsout]

Well, that was anti-climactic.

Case was rape/child molestation. Evidence was light. Victim's story changed 3 times in 4 days with 3 different witnesses that were put on the stand. Then she recanted back in January. Then she got on the stand and denied it all.

All the ADA had was appeals to emotion and the simple fact that a claim of rape was made. It was only somewhat convincing, but there was plenty of doubt.

We got hung up before lunch at 10-2. Eventually, I talked a woman into reason, got us to 11-1. Then the foreman, who is a deacon at his church (and led us in prayer prior to the start of deliberation....that was awkward for me), kept strong to his guilty verdict. The rest of us (all who think something might have happened, but weren't convinced with the evidence) weren't budging on our not guilty verdict.

After lunch, we were told the two sides reached an agreement. He took a plea agreement for a lesser charge (he faced 6 charges) of indecent liberties. 3 year probation, 30 years national sex offender registration.

Kinda bummed we didn't get to duke it out more in the deliberation room. Can't wait for 2 years to pass so I can do it again. Good time, IMO.

[Mr. Scot]

The first trial I sat on was for first degree murder :(

 

I was on duty when they had a massive child molestation case that included several hours of videotape. 

 

I wanted no part of that trial (and thankfully, wasn't picked).

[lightsout]

The trial i sat on was for first degree murder :(

 

I was on duty when they had a massive child molestation case that included several hours of videotape. 

 

I wanted no part of that trial (and thankfully, wasn't picked).

We had 1 hour of tape to watch from one interview with a child therapist who worked in conjunction with the investigation. That was painful.

Most of us were able to keep the emotion out of it. Others just couldn't do it (which is understandable, but not ideal for a jury in any case, let alone child molestation).

ADA's most convincing sentence of the trial was in her closing. She said "what 13 year old girl knows that a penis is hard and dry, and then wet after ejaculation? What 13 year old girl knows that semen is salty and white?"

All I could think was "you DO realize we're in an era of the internet, right?"

[Mr. Scot]

We had 1 hour of tape to watch from one interview with a child therapist who worked in conjunction with the investigation. That was painful.

Most of us were able to keep the emotion out of it. Others just couldn't do it (which is understandable, but not ideal for a jury in any case, let alone child molestation).

ADA's most convincing sentence of the trial was in her closing. She said "what 13 year old girl knows that a penis is hard and dry, and then wet after ejaculation? What 13 year old girl knows that semen is salty and white?"

All I could think was "you DO realize we're in an era of the internet, right?"

 

Video in this case was of the actual crimes.

 

The perpetrators were an elderly couple.  The victims, teenage boys.

 

Word was that a state trooper threw up while examining the evidence.

 

I don't wanna watch something that could make a state trooper throw up.

[lightsout]

Video in this case was of the actual crimes.

 

The perpetrators were an elderly couple.  The victims, teenage boys.

 

Word was that a state trooper threw up while examining the evidence.

 

I don't wanna watch something that could make a state trooper throw up.

Holy poo.....yeahhhhhhhhh fug that. I would not have been able to stomach that. My god...

[Mr. Scot]

Holy poo.....yeahhhhhhhhh fug that. I would not have been able to stomach that. My god...

 

Thankfully I didn't have to.

 

I saw the faces of the jurors who did, though.

 

[4Corners]

I had to do it on a Monday after a panthers game this year. I was hung over I got called in and got lucky. The trial only lasted that one day.