2/06/2007

What I learned on jury duty

First, thanks to those of you who have commented on the previous post. I do appreciate the suggestions.

Second, I have been busy the last two days with jury duty. After 5 hours of sitting and waiting I finally got called to a jury panel. I thought for sure I would sit on the jury cause I think I am pretty openminded, and mine was one of the first numbers called so I was in the first twelve and so unless I disqualified myself I would be on unless a party struck me.

So we go through voir dire, and I stay quiet for the most part. Then they ask if any of us have ever been accused of a crime etc. So I raise my hand and tell them that I was accused of disturbing the peace, but the charges were dropped.

Then they ask if any of us have visited someone in jail or written to someone in jail. I told them that I visited a client in a 1983 action in jail, and that I wrote to two women who I was helping petition for clemency for murdering their abusers. The prosecutor then asked if I had ever considered working for the other side, and I told them that I spent a summer in the US attorneys office. They asked what and I told them that I basically just prosecuted meth cases. That was all I talked about.

When we went out in the hall I was sure that I would get put on the jury. Nope. I get a thank you, go home.

So who cut me? I can't be sure. If it was the prosecutor, I am a little offended because there were some real nut jobs on that jury panel. If it was the defense attorney, it was because I was too much of a wild card. Either way I am a bit saddened because I think I would have been a good juror, and I would have actually gotten to see jury deliberations which would have been nice. Oh well. It will never happen again.

3 comments:

Amanda G. said...

that does suck. I want so badly to be on a jury, so I feel your pain. I would think your having been on both sides would be a point in your favor. Wierd.

Anonymous said...

I think what disqualified you was that you knew the law. Lawyers want ignorant people on juries because its more likely they will follow instructions.

Anonymous said...

I have jury duty tomorrow. It is so fucking stupid. I hate jury duty. I get called for it all of the time.