Jury duty tomorrow...

“I have to say they were very efficient in the process and tried very hard to not take any more of everyone's time than was necessary.

I don't mind serving. The timing sucks for me but honestly when is the timing good for this sort of thing?

I was definately taken aback at some of the responses.”

“Jury duty was a great experience. One week on an arson trial. Very interesting to be a part of.
last edited: 1/23/06 2:54:51 PM”

“I just got a notice to report for jury duty on March 16. I've never sat on a jury. Last time I was never called - just sat and waited for four hours and they let us all go. Before that, every time I got a notice I had just moved and no longer lived in the same state. I am glad they managed to catch me this time before I moved again.”

“Looks like it's contagious.”

“treebait - Any word from the jury yet?

Are they going to keep him overnight? Now, an unlimited bar tab in a local hotel might make it all worthwhile.”

“I guess a bartab would be good if HPM drank alcohol.

No word yet today. They went in at 10:50 this morning. All I know is it's a murder 1 case.”

“Suprisingly enough, we aren't being sequestered for a murder trial.

I am finding that what just about everyone has told me about jury service is wrong. It's an interesting and illuminating experience so far.”

“Is there anything in the Jacksonville newspaper about the trial? I looked without locating anything.”

“Phil, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled as a matter of Constitutional law that jurors are required to receive legal instructions as to things like burden of proof, the elements of the the crime, and the limited nature of certain types of evidence.

4:51:08 AM
12/29/05

I guess I am just reacting to the instructions we got on the one case I was on that went to deliberation. I thought the instructions were bad. I can't remember why, I just remember how surprised I was.

Violin - I can only speculate that Professors ask a lot of questions of authority and could be overly persuasive of their point-of-view in deliberations. I just know that when comparing notes, we rarely get picked for a jury.”

“Some venues read the instructions to the jury and then send a hard copy of the instructions into the jury room as well. Some don't. I think it's a good idea to do so because so often people don't get it the first time around.

Regarding dress codes: You wouldn't believe what people wear to court. I know one attorney who always tells her clients to dress as if they wer going to church. One litigant I remember in particular did manage to wear a tie at least. But it was a Three Stooges tie that had a scene from the Dewie, Cheatum & Howe episode. My judge was flabbergasted over that one. She said, did he really think he was going to endear himself to me by wearing that?”

“Can you call in sick once the trial starts?”

“HPM's still down at the courthouse tonight. He was warned they sometimes run until 9 pm.”

“So they started deliberations at 3 pm today, and HPM just now left the courthouse and is waiting for the shuttle bus to his car. There's no parking downtown. So he heads back in tomorrow morning for more legal fun.”

“In Wisconsin they don't choose jurors through voter registration but by driver's licenses...I think there were only 2 of us who hadn't been on jury duty before out of the 14 that showed up...”

“I think Arizona is that way too. I know people who are not registered to vote but get jury duty summonses anyway.”

“HPM is done and on his way back to work now.”

“So, did he vote to hang 'em high?”

“The vote was for guilty in the first degree, I believe.”

“Dang! I sure hope that poor guilty guy can write a series of award winning children's books real quick like!
I hear that makes him a nice man again! ;-)”

“So where's HPM and his tale of civic duty?”

“Struggling to stay awake at work right now. I don't think he slept at all last night.”

“Was the case that bad?”

“Guilty of murder in the first degree by the discharge of a firearm.

All that over who gets to ride a bicycle.

The Prosecution could have (IMO) brought a stonger case with more detail. It seemed kinda thin. I was very suprised when they rested.

The Defense only brought heresay and innuendo (not the good kind).

*suprise*
I was foreman. First vote was 6 to 6 split along racial lines. The white folk say guilty the black folk say non-guilty.

We hammered on it for a long while and listened to the transcripts of certain witnesses testimony twice. There were discrepencies between all the versions we heard. What convinced me was that the key facts aligned. Last vote was G-5 NG-7

They let us go home last night late and I did nothing but think about this case all night. Did a fair bit of praying too. After all, this is a mans freedom and another mans death we are talking about. I'd better be right. Not a lot of sleeping going on.

This morning we hit it fresh and over night there were some conversions to guilty. Vote G-8 NG-4. Deliberated some more and it soon became clear to me that the sticking point for the NG side was the concept of a reasonable doubt. They had doubts and so did I but as per the instructions provided to us a reasonable doubt is NOT a "possible, speculative or imaginary doubt" and I proceeded to work through all their doubts one by one. Vote G-9 NG-3

We listened to some testimony again rediscussed the doubts and voted. I recieved a hesitant G-12 NG-0.

I was not satisfied with hesitant. I asked everyone to rememebr that this is a young mans life we are dealing with. I want you to be sure of your vote. I don't want to leave here with anyone feeling railroaded.

More discussion vote G-9 NG-3
We then went point by point and dealt with the concerns of the 3.

Revote G-12 NG-0
Is everyone sure? Yes we are sure.

I let the bailiff know we had a verdict. Court re-assembles and the verdit is read. No reaction from the Accused at all. The jury was polled and all responded that Guilty was indeed their vote.

We were excused and the bailiff escorted us to our cars.
last edited: 1/26/06 2:57:53 PM”

“I'm glad that you gave them an opportunity to reconsider. I don't see any indication whether this is a capital case or not, but regardless it's an important decision, worth all of the thought, prayer and consideration.”

“This was not a death penalty case.”

“wow, hpm...what a tough, intense situation to be in...sounds like you handled it well”

“If only every citizen would discharge their civic duty in such an exemplary manner.

Three cheers for HPM!”

“Nowslimmer I have not seen this case in the papers at all. The murder occured Aug 24 2004.

The Accused left the scene of a verbal arguement and returned with a .32. The unarmed victim saw the gun and ran. The accused shot the victim in the back and then walked up on the victim and shot him again while he was lying on the ground bleeding and gasping for breath.

The witnesses included a lady who lied about how much she really saw on the 911 call, a crack-head who had consumed 80oz of malt liquor and smoked three rocks just before the shooting, the aunt of the shooters best friend (whom she was trying to protect) and the aunt's live in boyfriend/common law husband.

The boyfriend was the lynchpin. He was the only guy we had any bit of faith in. He was also the only steady job holding, non-felon, has nothing to gain/lose by testifying person in the case at all.”

“Thanks, and congratulations on a job well done. Well, at least until I hear from the other 11.

LOL.”

“They will tell you that they can't believe the idiot with the long curly hair got on the jury.”

“OK, I'll ask them. How many of the 11 will be joining TT? How many will be joining the 5th Annual Ocala NF Hike at Apalachicola NF? Numbers count, so this is how we can measure how good a job you did at the court house!


LOL.”

“Bitpusher said it best, and I will ditto his compliments.”

“Good job, HPM! Thanks for taking that very important job so seriously.”

“I called in last night, but was not required to report this morning. I have to call again at 11 AM for a possible afternoon gig. If not, I'm done for this year. Last year was the first time I had been called but didn't have to at least go to the courthouse. I don't mind going - they treat the potential jurors very well in our county. I always get called for the criminal courts, but never end up on a jury. Seems that the defense attorneys don't like people who grew up with a cop for a dad....”

“YOU GO BOWLDER! I get called, go to court and am on the PERMENANT STRIKE list. (LOL) sat in on a child abuse charge a few years ago.

The Prosecutor was a friend, The investigators were both friends, heck the Bailiff and I used to hang out at the same breakfast place. So I got the do you know (they would name them one at a time) so I have to raise my hand like five times. The sixth time they ask about the Doctor from the Emergency Room....he was my son's Pediatrician.

When I raise my hand this "car salesman" attorney looks at me and says,"WELLL (insulting tone) is there anyone else you know in the court?"

I took a moment and said,"UM I know Judge "name"(he was a friend from Scouting). Then the Judge looks up and says, "HEY Lieutenant!"

LOL...the Prosecution table lost it. The Defense geek went red in the face and started more or less cross examining me. I looked up and asked,"Counselor, I don't believe I am on trial here." Then I turned to the judge and asked if I had to answer some personal questions. The Judge heartily scolded the attorney.”

“nice XL
lol”

“I got the call!! 2:00 today....

Maybe I'll take my laptop and give periodic updates....”

“Today is my first day ever as a juror....and no case assigned. At least they have internet...”

“Have fun”

“Be Glad that I don't have Photoshop....

Picture Dub's head on the Statue of Justice... [VBG]


”

“I can picture it. Dub's a good person.”

“I'm having a chance to edit the 10gb's of photos I took in Glacier last week :-)”

“It will be an interesting experience.

I'm glad I had a chance to serve.
last edited: 8/20/07 11:45:51 AM”

“At first I didn't want to do it, but after our orientation I decided that I wanted to do it...never know when I might need a jury someday and I would want those people to have clear heads and want to be there. So I'm going to reciprocate. The decision we make could really effect someones life.”

“I'll say.

Seeing this thread prompted me to try and find out what happened to the guy we convicted.

Another wasted life. Killing some guy over who gets to ride a bicycle. Currently serving a life sentence just plain stupid.
last edited: 8/20/07 12:19:35 PM”

“All I got was an old guy with his 9th driving while lisence revoked charge.He could of had his lisence but he wouldn't give the DMV his soc sec number.”

“Almost the end of the second day and still no case assigned...but man have I made progress on my Glacier photos...”

“LOL...I always try to get on the Jury to retry the case in the Jury room.”

“I seem to get called for Jury duty every year or two. They never want me on the jury. I think they are biased against engineering professors who teach statistics. Oh, yes, I also used to teach Safety Management and Safety Engineering...fast track off the panel.”

“i might stand alone here but i LOVED jury duty...it was very interesting and i'd be happy to do it again”