Question:
I was going to post this as a poll, but then decided just to throw the question out here.
I suppose I'm prompted by all the converstions going back and forth over the Catherine Noiboonsook case.
Anyway, a couple years ago, I got picked to sit on a jury hearing a federal drug case. I expected the entire three days to be a big bore and much to my surprise, it turned out to be fascinating.
Anyone else?
The closest I ever got was being called back for a second day of questioning. I was kinda disappointed.
Looking forward to others' responses.
Jen ;)
hi alli,
i had it once and got picked for the jury. but after they interviewed every one. they told me to go home. but i get another chance 4/ 19. i will redeam my self and make it all the way. :D :D :D
I seem to get summoned for jury duty about every 2 years.....and up until the last time, was always picked for a jury.
The worst one was a rape/murder trial of an 18 month old by the mother's boyfriend.....and we couldn't convict him because one person on the jury claimed that because no-one had seen him do it, the state couldn't prove that he did it. Of course the fact that he threw the mother out of the apartment, and kept the baby with him until he called EMS to come and help didn't mean anything to this idiot. So, the time we all spent, the feelings we all had after reviewing the evidence, and the fact that he was guilty as hell meant nothing to this person.
I spoke to the prosecutor aftwards who said not to worry, he was going to retry it, and send him away for a long time.
Then I was on a trial for assault, where one party put a pick-axe into another's back and shoulder:guilty as charged.
And another where the defendent was caught with cocaine (this predated crack cocaine): not guilty - it was just dust...not even measurable.
I could go on, but it generally was interesting, sometimes very disturbing, and mostly "hurry up and wait".
jeff
I was almost chosen and was questioned by both sides right up to the end. I was honest and unbiased with all my responses. It was a workman's comp case. After my interviews, the medical side wanted me. The person claiming a disability did not. I wanted to serve. It would have been interesting.
Dh just got called for jury duty (he is a surgeon). How do they expect someone with month's worth of patient appointments and scheduled surgeries (including cancer surgeries), be available to sit on a jury for an undesignated amount of time? Aren't there enough unemployed or retired people out there to take this one person's place???
Annie
I was in the pool for a jury for a famous murder trial in Ca., A boy and a neighbor killed one of the boy's parents, stole their car, and went to Mexico to party.
Went through several weeks of interviews, gave personal (sometimes too personal) history, psyc tests, etc.
During the selection process, I made it to the jury box, where I was immediately thrown out by the prosecution (they do not allow people with beards to sit on criminal juries, generally, only retired old ladies are allowed to serve (Annie)).
I also sat on a civil suit between two business partners. About three weeks in, as it was coming to a close, the sides settled.
I was also on a in the pool on medical malpractice suit. a guy had flu type symptoms, but kept getting sicker, so he went to a PCP who diagnosed a liver problem and sent him for a cat scan or x-ray. PCP, Radiology tech, and radiologist see "lump" in liver, assume tumor, order more test/biopsy. Guy dies before the test get done. The autopsy found only a ball of infection in liver; had he gotten the right dx and received antibiotics, he would have lived.
I got into the jury box, but the prosecutors removed educated defendants because they did not want anyone on the jury who would be able to understand the testimony. A coworker made the jury, it was a mistrial, because the mother got on the stand and started talking about her daughter trying to commit suicide after her father’s death. She had not told the defendants about that during discovery, and you can't just spring something like that during the trial.
I enjoy servng on juries, because
1) It is our duty.
2) I learn a lot about our system of justice (most of which, I don't like).
3) And most of all, it is one time when our vote really does count.
Dennis
I have been on 2 juries. First on was a domestic violence case. It was not pretty and at the we couldn’t tell who was worse. The Guy was 19 and the girl 18. They had 2 kids one 5 and the other 3. so you can tell from that it was just bad all around.
the 2nd was a pleasure to be on. It was a civil suit. It was a dog bite case. At the time I was on my last year of my B.S. degree. On that jury I had the lowest amount of formal education. I was the only person without a 4 year degree. And these people were smart. However the floor person we had we great he kept things civil and no one started arguing we never talked over each other everyone got there say and we were done in 3 hours and I was sure that when it came to hammering out the pain and suffering amount that would not be easy. The strange thing about that trial was that the Jury could ask questions. I had never heard of that before but would write a question on a piece of paper and give it to the judge and she would as the question of the witness. I am for more of that you get all of the things you want to know answered instead of just what the lawyers are Tring you only let you know.
Just a side note I like having debates with ones that see things different then I do. It forces you to think when you have to defend your position and really analyze if your right or not. Of course its rational debate I like. All the parties need to be reasonable for it to really benefit all. Sadly they most turn into screaming matches or with one side stubbornly convinced they are defending truth and right and there opponent's and agents of the dark side. Which does no one any good and does not promote thought.
-Fox
Well... i have never been summoned for jury duty... im not really allowed to yet... haha, BUT, i have been called to the stand as a witness, and was examined and cross-examined.
I was a witness in a case of an employee at my store participating in credit card fraud via our system.
the case still isnt done yet. I think the next time we go to court is at the end of March.
I have a very funny jury duty story. A number of years ago, I was shopping at Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City. I was by myself and, as usual, I was in a big hurry. I was trying to go from Stern's to JC Penny. I heard someone calling "Mike, Mike, Mike". (Mike is such a common name that I usually don't even bother to turn around.) Then whoever was calling "Mike" used my full name and pronounced my last name correctly. I finally turned around. I didn't see anyone I new or so I thought. That I suddenly realized that the Jersey City cop that was standing nearby was someone that I knew from college. (We were both accounting majors; had several classes together; and were in the same study group.) I graduated the year before he did and I hadn't seen him since. I had no idea that he had become a cop. His plans were to go to law school after he graduated. He told me that he had taken the exam on a whim; went to the academy and liked it very much. He was working off duty, in uniform, as a security guard. It was great to see him again, but he had to go back to work and I had to finish my shopping. That was the last time we ever saw each other. Less then 12 hours later I was in the Jury Assembly room in the Hudson County Court House.
One of the first cases, that I was called for, was a kidnapping/murder/forgery/insurance fraud case. It took forever for the judge to read the indictment. He also explained that the trial was expected to last a couple of weeks. I decided that I was going to do what I could to get off of that case. Then they started to read the list of potential witnesses. They went down the list of police officers who were involved. I heard them mention the name of the guy that I went to college with. (He had a very unusual last name, so I knew that it was him.) I raised my hand. The following exchange took place between me and the judge:
(The defendant was subsequently convicted of all counts.)
The last time that I was called for jury duty, I managed to get through the vetting process and sit through the trial. It was an attemped car jacking. It was kind of interesting until the very last day. No they didn't plea bargain. At the end of the trial they held a kind of sort of lottery to select the two alternate jurors. Guess who one of the winners was? :rolleyes: I never did get to deliberate. The other alternate and I made small talk and stared out of the window until the jury came in. (I thought that it was a open and shut case. They were out for several hours.) I was shocked when they convicted the defendant of lesser charges. When we were dismissed, I joined several jurors for coffee. (They told me that the deliberations had gotten quite heated and that at one point the baliff entered the room because he was concerned that things were going to get physical.) I asked them to explain their verdict. (I disagreed with it. I thought that it was an open and shut case.) They explained that after the examined all of the evidence and had a chance to discuss it, they agreed that the defendant could have been guilty of the more serious charges. By the time that we finished our coffee, I couldn't help but agree that they had reached the correct verdict. The system worked -- even if I didn't get to fully participate in it.
Mike
the police are always right!!!!!!!
When I lived in the Keys, people got summoned for jury duty all the time, due to the fact that the full time resident population is small. I bragged for years that I was never called.....until that day the envelope arrived.
Being a federal case, I had to drive 2 hours to get to Key West and at my husband's prompting, packed a suitcase with enough for a week.
Oh lucky me, first time out and I get picked to sit on a crack cocaine case. The trial was to last 4 days and those who had to drive over 50 miles were to be reimbursed for their hotel/mileage/parking.
The case itself was fascinating. Suffering from a huge drug problem, Key West had asked the feds to come in and help clean things up. Operation Sunset. We were told all the ins and outs of a sting operation and learned how they make crack cocaine. There were hostile witnesses, prisoners testifying in orange jumpsuits and shackles , undercover cops and a couple nasty federal prosecutors.
The best part was my fellow jurors. About half were from the upper Keys ( they were fifty plus miles from home) and it had never crossed their mind to pack clothes for the week. Moreover, hey, they were in Key West, why not have some fun while stuck here on jury duty.
The second morning, as we gathered in the jury room waiting to enter the courtroom, it was obvious that some had checked out some of the local sites the night before. They also had purchased some very tacky Hawaiian style shirts to solve their luggage problem.
Morning three was just as ugly. I can't imagine what the lawyers were thinking as they addressed the jury box. The Three piece suits from Washington D.C. certainly got a taste of the Keys as well.
Having said that, when we were actually ' handed ' the case and went to deliberate, everyone took the matter at hand very seriously. It amazed me what happened in the jury room and I understand now why jury's hand down the sentence they do ( well, most of the time, there are some cases no one will ever understand).
In the end, I was really glad to have served. Will I cringe next time the envelope arrives, YES! Will I show up....yea.
P.S. Einna, my understanding is that Doctor's with a practice almost never have to serve. I would think he can be excused with a letter sent before hand.
I was on a jury about 6 months ago and it was horrible. It was a civil case and boring as all heck. One of the jurers kept falling asleep and snoring during the trial. The lady suing didn't have a case at all so no money was awarded. It was a 6 day trial and I couldn't wait to get back to work.
I have only been called for jury duty once and was selected to be on the jury. It was a murder trail; the wife was accused of shooting and killing her husband. It was very interesting; nothing like Law and Order. :-). Can't tell you whether or not she was found guilty because the trial ended in a mis-trial due to the procescuting attorney asking a question he should not have asked. It was like reading a murder mystery and having the last 10 pages torn out of the book.
I would like to be called again; I thought the whole process was very interesting.
Right after I graduated college, just before I left to spend the summer traveling Europe (who remembers the '70's?), I was selected for a paternity suit jury. The guy, who was rather skeezy, was a married, armed forces recruiter who admitted to having unprotected relations w/ the just-out-of high school recruitee.
I most remember the closing arguments, with his lawyer looking directly at me (21-years old and at the risk of sounding conceited, mighty darn cute (6' tall, thin, natural blonde waist length hair...thought it would last forever - sic transit gloria mundi!) but EXTREMELY shy) and saying, "She claims she spent Friday nights at home...what attractive young woman is at home on Friday nights?", and me thinking, "ME!"
After we found him guilty, the judge told us he thought we had made the right decision - but maybe that's what they tell all jurors, just to make them feel good!
I was called for several other juries after we moved, (probably due to political party registration - not many of us where we moved to!), but I was usually nursing a kid or dealing with a pre-schooler in a then rural area. (no baby sitters).
I was called, but not selected for the county grand jury around 3 years ago...haven't been called in our new county...
I got on one for a drunk driver. It was just an afternoon jury...but I would love to get on another one. I think it is interesting.
Right after I graduated college, just before I left to spend the summer traveling Europe (who remembers the '70's?)
I always heard if you say you remember the 70's then you probably were not there ;-)
Richard,
That was the sixties! Maybe you forgot both decades!
I Also heard that the 60's were really the 70's ;-))))))))
Robert
ohhh......
like, WOW, man.......
The 60's being the 70's (gasp!) - nah, that's just the flashbacks talking!
Too young to have gotten into trouble in the 60's (ahem), but do remember the smell of tear gas in the neighborhood during the '68 Democratic convention when the lake breezes were just right! (and being irritated with my parents 'cuz they wouldn't let me go down to the park to check it all out...)
Maybe next time I'm called for jury duty I'll just tell them I'm a child of the 60/70s and that'll be enough to get me dismissed!
I am not a registered voter, so I do not have any rights. Anyways- I would rather, maybe, be judged by a surgeon than a crack head junkie unemployed person. Maybe...........
" A jury on one's peers"
The jury I sat on had 11 white people and one elderly black man. We were all basically age 40 or over, we the exception of one younger female teacher.
We actually asked the judge whether we were a in fact the defendant's peers.
The defendant ( or the de-fen- DANT as the defense lawyer pronounced it) was a young black male.
The answer we received from the judge was that if you lived in the same community ( ie county), you were a peer.
Well, I said maybe for that reason. i cannot see how a group of 40 somethings, professionals, can fairly judge a young black defendant. My mom would have NO CLUE of his environment, circumstance, or his state of mind. A college graduate, maybe i am wrong, with no children and a paycheck in the triple digits, could POSSIBLY have a clue what my life is like living. I have battles ALL THE TIME with my BF. He was raised priveleged, as are his children. We have heated discussions on politics, religion, etc because he will never know what it is like to buy mac and cheese and a 1/2 gallon of milk at the grocery store and live on it for a week. No way. Peers to me means equals.
I suppose I'm prompted by all the converstions going back and forth over the Catherine Noiboonsook case.
Anyway, a couple years ago, I got picked to sit on a jury hearing a federal drug case. I expected the entire three days to be a big bore and much to my surprise, it turned out to be fascinating.
Anyone else?
Answers:
The closest I ever got was being called back for a second day of questioning. I was kinda disappointed.
Looking forward to others' responses.
Jen ;)
Answers:
hi alli,
i had it once and got picked for the jury. but after they interviewed every one. they told me to go home. but i get another chance 4/ 19. i will redeam my self and make it all the way. :D :D :D
Answers:
I seem to get summoned for jury duty about every 2 years.....and up until the last time, was always picked for a jury.
The worst one was a rape/murder trial of an 18 month old by the mother's boyfriend.....and we couldn't convict him because one person on the jury claimed that because no-one had seen him do it, the state couldn't prove that he did it. Of course the fact that he threw the mother out of the apartment, and kept the baby with him until he called EMS to come and help didn't mean anything to this idiot. So, the time we all spent, the feelings we all had after reviewing the evidence, and the fact that he was guilty as hell meant nothing to this person.
I spoke to the prosecutor aftwards who said not to worry, he was going to retry it, and send him away for a long time.
Then I was on a trial for assault, where one party put a pick-axe into another's back and shoulder:guilty as charged.
And another where the defendent was caught with cocaine (this predated crack cocaine): not guilty - it was just dust...not even measurable.
I could go on, but it generally was interesting, sometimes very disturbing, and mostly "hurry up and wait".
jeff
Answers:
I was almost chosen and was questioned by both sides right up to the end. I was honest and unbiased with all my responses. It was a workman's comp case. After my interviews, the medical side wanted me. The person claiming a disability did not. I wanted to serve. It would have been interesting.
Dh just got called for jury duty (he is a surgeon). How do they expect someone with month's worth of patient appointments and scheduled surgeries (including cancer surgeries), be available to sit on a jury for an undesignated amount of time? Aren't there enough unemployed or retired people out there to take this one person's place???
Annie
Answers:
I was in the pool for a jury for a famous murder trial in Ca., A boy and a neighbor killed one of the boy's parents, stole their car, and went to Mexico to party.
Went through several weeks of interviews, gave personal (sometimes too personal) history, psyc tests, etc.
During the selection process, I made it to the jury box, where I was immediately thrown out by the prosecution (they do not allow people with beards to sit on criminal juries, generally, only retired old ladies are allowed to serve (Annie)).
I also sat on a civil suit between two business partners. About three weeks in, as it was coming to a close, the sides settled.
I was also on a in the pool on medical malpractice suit. a guy had flu type symptoms, but kept getting sicker, so he went to a PCP who diagnosed a liver problem and sent him for a cat scan or x-ray. PCP, Radiology tech, and radiologist see "lump" in liver, assume tumor, order more test/biopsy. Guy dies before the test get done. The autopsy found only a ball of infection in liver; had he gotten the right dx and received antibiotics, he would have lived.
I got into the jury box, but the prosecutors removed educated defendants because they did not want anyone on the jury who would be able to understand the testimony. A coworker made the jury, it was a mistrial, because the mother got on the stand and started talking about her daughter trying to commit suicide after her father’s death. She had not told the defendants about that during discovery, and you can't just spring something like that during the trial.
I enjoy servng on juries, because
1) It is our duty.
2) I learn a lot about our system of justice (most of which, I don't like).
3) And most of all, it is one time when our vote really does count.
Dennis
Answers:
I have been on 2 juries. First on was a domestic violence case. It was not pretty and at the we couldn’t tell who was worse. The Guy was 19 and the girl 18. They had 2 kids one 5 and the other 3. so you can tell from that it was just bad all around.
the 2nd was a pleasure to be on. It was a civil suit. It was a dog bite case. At the time I was on my last year of my B.S. degree. On that jury I had the lowest amount of formal education. I was the only person without a 4 year degree. And these people were smart. However the floor person we had we great he kept things civil and no one started arguing we never talked over each other everyone got there say and we were done in 3 hours and I was sure that when it came to hammering out the pain and suffering amount that would not be easy. The strange thing about that trial was that the Jury could ask questions. I had never heard of that before but would write a question on a piece of paper and give it to the judge and she would as the question of the witness. I am for more of that you get all of the things you want to know answered instead of just what the lawyers are Tring you only let you know.
Just a side note I like having debates with ones that see things different then I do. It forces you to think when you have to defend your position and really analyze if your right or not. Of course its rational debate I like. All the parties need to be reasonable for it to really benefit all. Sadly they most turn into screaming matches or with one side stubbornly convinced they are defending truth and right and there opponent's and agents of the dark side. Which does no one any good and does not promote thought.
-Fox
Answers:
Well... i have never been summoned for jury duty... im not really allowed to yet... haha, BUT, i have been called to the stand as a witness, and was examined and cross-examined.
I was a witness in a case of an employee at my store participating in credit card fraud via our system.
the case still isnt done yet. I think the next time we go to court is at the end of March.
Answers:
I have a very funny jury duty story. A number of years ago, I was shopping at Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City. I was by myself and, as usual, I was in a big hurry. I was trying to go from Stern's to JC Penny. I heard someone calling "Mike, Mike, Mike". (Mike is such a common name that I usually don't even bother to turn around.) Then whoever was calling "Mike" used my full name and pronounced my last name correctly. I finally turned around. I didn't see anyone I new or so I thought. That I suddenly realized that the Jersey City cop that was standing nearby was someone that I knew from college. (We were both accounting majors; had several classes together; and were in the same study group.) I graduated the year before he did and I hadn't seen him since. I had no idea that he had become a cop. His plans were to go to law school after he graduated. He told me that he had taken the exam on a whim; went to the academy and liked it very much. He was working off duty, in uniform, as a security guard. It was great to see him again, but he had to go back to work and I had to finish my shopping. That was the last time we ever saw each other. Less then 12 hours later I was in the Jury Assembly room in the Hudson County Court House.
One of the first cases, that I was called for, was a kidnapping/murder/forgery/insurance fraud case. It took forever for the judge to read the indictment. He also explained that the trial was expected to last a couple of weeks. I decided that I was going to do what I could to get off of that case. Then they started to read the list of potential witnesses. They went down the list of police officers who were involved. I heard them mention the name of the guy that I went to college with. (He had a very unusual last name, so I knew that it was him.) I raised my hand. The following exchange took place between me and the judge:
- "I know officer so and so."
- "How do you know him?"
- We went to college together."
- "How well do you know him?"
- "We both had the same major; had a few classes together; and were in the same study group."
- "When was the last time you saw each other?"
- "Last night."
- "Bailiff, juror number xxx is excused".
(The defendant was subsequently convicted of all counts.)
The last time that I was called for jury duty, I managed to get through the vetting process and sit through the trial. It was an attemped car jacking. It was kind of interesting until the very last day. No they didn't plea bargain. At the end of the trial they held a kind of sort of lottery to select the two alternate jurors. Guess who one of the winners was? :rolleyes: I never did get to deliberate. The other alternate and I made small talk and stared out of the window until the jury came in. (I thought that it was a open and shut case. They were out for several hours.) I was shocked when they convicted the defendant of lesser charges. When we were dismissed, I joined several jurors for coffee. (They told me that the deliberations had gotten quite heated and that at one point the baliff entered the room because he was concerned that things were going to get physical.) I asked them to explain their verdict. (I disagreed with it. I thought that it was an open and shut case.) They explained that after the examined all of the evidence and had a chance to discuss it, they agreed that the defendant could have been guilty of the more serious charges. By the time that we finished our coffee, I couldn't help but agree that they had reached the correct verdict. The system worked -- even if I didn't get to fully participate in it.
Mike
Answers:
the police are always right!!!!!!!
Answers:
When I lived in the Keys, people got summoned for jury duty all the time, due to the fact that the full time resident population is small. I bragged for years that I was never called.....until that day the envelope arrived.
Being a federal case, I had to drive 2 hours to get to Key West and at my husband's prompting, packed a suitcase with enough for a week.
Oh lucky me, first time out and I get picked to sit on a crack cocaine case. The trial was to last 4 days and those who had to drive over 50 miles were to be reimbursed for their hotel/mileage/parking.
The case itself was fascinating. Suffering from a huge drug problem, Key West had asked the feds to come in and help clean things up. Operation Sunset. We were told all the ins and outs of a sting operation and learned how they make crack cocaine. There were hostile witnesses, prisoners testifying in orange jumpsuits and shackles , undercover cops and a couple nasty federal prosecutors.
The best part was my fellow jurors. About half were from the upper Keys ( they were fifty plus miles from home) and it had never crossed their mind to pack clothes for the week. Moreover, hey, they were in Key West, why not have some fun while stuck here on jury duty.
The second morning, as we gathered in the jury room waiting to enter the courtroom, it was obvious that some had checked out some of the local sites the night before. They also had purchased some very tacky Hawaiian style shirts to solve their luggage problem.
Morning three was just as ugly. I can't imagine what the lawyers were thinking as they addressed the jury box. The Three piece suits from Washington D.C. certainly got a taste of the Keys as well.
Having said that, when we were actually ' handed ' the case and went to deliberate, everyone took the matter at hand very seriously. It amazed me what happened in the jury room and I understand now why jury's hand down the sentence they do ( well, most of the time, there are some cases no one will ever understand).
In the end, I was really glad to have served. Will I cringe next time the envelope arrives, YES! Will I show up....yea.
P.S. Einna, my understanding is that Doctor's with a practice almost never have to serve. I would think he can be excused with a letter sent before hand.
Answers:
I was on a jury about 6 months ago and it was horrible. It was a civil case and boring as all heck. One of the jurers kept falling asleep and snoring during the trial. The lady suing didn't have a case at all so no money was awarded. It was a 6 day trial and I couldn't wait to get back to work.
Answers:
I have only been called for jury duty once and was selected to be on the jury. It was a murder trail; the wife was accused of shooting and killing her husband. It was very interesting; nothing like Law and Order. :-). Can't tell you whether or not she was found guilty because the trial ended in a mis-trial due to the procescuting attorney asking a question he should not have asked. It was like reading a murder mystery and having the last 10 pages torn out of the book.
I would like to be called again; I thought the whole process was very interesting.
Answers:
Right after I graduated college, just before I left to spend the summer traveling Europe (who remembers the '70's?), I was selected for a paternity suit jury. The guy, who was rather skeezy, was a married, armed forces recruiter who admitted to having unprotected relations w/ the just-out-of high school recruitee.
I most remember the closing arguments, with his lawyer looking directly at me (21-years old and at the risk of sounding conceited, mighty darn cute (6' tall, thin, natural blonde waist length hair...thought it would last forever - sic transit gloria mundi!) but EXTREMELY shy) and saying, "She claims she spent Friday nights at home...what attractive young woman is at home on Friday nights?", and me thinking, "ME!"
After we found him guilty, the judge told us he thought we had made the right decision - but maybe that's what they tell all jurors, just to make them feel good!
I was called for several other juries after we moved, (probably due to political party registration - not many of us where we moved to!), but I was usually nursing a kid or dealing with a pre-schooler in a then rural area. (no baby sitters).
I was called, but not selected for the county grand jury around 3 years ago...haven't been called in our new county...
Answers:
I got on one for a drunk driver. It was just an afternoon jury...but I would love to get on another one. I think it is interesting.
Answers:
Right after I graduated college, just before I left to spend the summer traveling Europe (who remembers the '70's?)
I always heard if you say you remember the 70's then you probably were not there ;-)
Answers:
Richard,
That was the sixties! Maybe you forgot both decades!
Answers:
I Also heard that the 60's were really the 70's ;-))))))))
Robert
Answers:
ohhh......
like, WOW, man.......
Answers:
The 60's being the 70's (gasp!) - nah, that's just the flashbacks talking!
Too young to have gotten into trouble in the 60's (ahem), but do remember the smell of tear gas in the neighborhood during the '68 Democratic convention when the lake breezes were just right! (and being irritated with my parents 'cuz they wouldn't let me go down to the park to check it all out...)
Answers:
Maybe next time I'm called for jury duty I'll just tell them I'm a child of the 60/70s and that'll be enough to get me dismissed!
Answers:
I am not a registered voter, so I do not have any rights. Anyways- I would rather, maybe, be judged by a surgeon than a crack head junkie unemployed person. Maybe...........
Answers:
" A jury on one's peers"
The jury I sat on had 11 white people and one elderly black man. We were all basically age 40 or over, we the exception of one younger female teacher.
We actually asked the judge whether we were a in fact the defendant's peers.
The defendant ( or the de-fen- DANT as the defense lawyer pronounced it) was a young black male.
The answer we received from the judge was that if you lived in the same community ( ie county), you were a peer.
Answers:
Well, I said maybe for that reason. i cannot see how a group of 40 somethings, professionals, can fairly judge a young black defendant. My mom would have NO CLUE of his environment, circumstance, or his state of mind. A college graduate, maybe i am wrong, with no children and a paycheck in the triple digits, could POSSIBLY have a clue what my life is like living. I have battles ALL THE TIME with my BF. He was raised priveleged, as are his children. We have heated discussions on politics, religion, etc because he will never know what it is like to buy mac and cheese and a 1/2 gallon of milk at the grocery store and live on it for a week. No way. Peers to me means equals.
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