Jury Duty

[patphi]

Here goes and this may be rather long.

I received a summons for Jury Duty and went yesterday.  While my opinion of the the courts, lawyers, judges, etc. has always been somewhat jaded, I received an eye-opening experience yesterday.  I had hoped to come away from the day feeling some satisfaction in having performed by civic duty; however, I came away frustrated and disillusioned to say the least.

While I was not called to serve, I was interviewed for 3 seperate cases.  And each time you could tell where the defense attorney was going just by the quesitons he asked you.  The questions were meant to lead and mis-lead you.  When asked if I could stand my ground against all odds, i.e., if every one on the jury felt one way and I felt the total opposite would I stand my ground.  When I answer absolutely because above all else I have to be able to live with myself.  The attorney then said, "so you would cause a hung jury, rather than accept the opinion of the majority."  Now just how was I expected to respond to that question.  I would not want to be the cause of a hung jury; however, on the other hand if in all good conscenice I felt a defendant was either guilty or innocent and everyone else felt the opposite should I give in and let the majority rule.  I told the attorney I am here to do my civic duty and if I have a resonable doubt one way or the other, then it is my duty to stick by my guns - so to speak.

It was simply a very hard experience to go through and I have to say I am very glad that I was not chosen.  If my experience at just been in the selection process was this discouraging, I cannot imagine what actually sitting through a trial would have been like.

Pat in Orlando

[JessW]

I really would not worry too much about this.  It is merely a question, as I see it, of emphasis.  The defending lawyer wants to get his acquitted at all costs immaterial of the facts and the prosecuting counsel wants a unanimous verdict against the plaintiff (if they are that sort of case).  Neither side can afford to have an undecided vote or number of undecided votes as a) it would tarnish their reputation and b) mean the case could be drawn out for far too long, in which time they could be deprived of further cases.

My advice to you is that if this is how your jury duty goes then enjoy messing with their heads, be questioned but answer as your concience dictates and know that you have done your bit.  Jury duty only lasts so long and thereafter you have done your bit.  The courts can ask for nothing more than what your concience can handle.

Be brave, be bold and beep the lawyers.  They get paid quite nicely to win their cases and have to 'work' hard to get the right result while you will be essentially paid to do very little bar attending and answering a few evaluative questions.

Enjoy the experience...it will be quite unique and never happen again.

Jess