Jury duty
Big day tomorrow! I’m serving as a juror for my first time. Yup, Mr. Rob Patin gets to help society! I’m doing my job to make the world a better place! I’m putting things right that once went wrong, and hoping each time that my next leap will be the leap home!
Whoah…sorry. Got a little carried away with the Quantum Leap reference.
Anyway, it’s just district court in Rockford. We’ve been told that it will be around an eight-hour day (no gaurantees about another Summer Series matchup this week, Scott). I guess I’m a little excited, just to see a court trial up close (will it be anything like Judge Judy?).
Perhaps I’m more curious to see what the REST of the jurors are like. I was amazed at how many people showed up late to the jury selection process, even after the sternly worded letter we all got about the importance of showing up on time. I guess some people just never grow up and become responsible. Go figure.
So, do any of you have any humorous, insightful, or mind-blowing jury duty stories to share? If my jury duty experience turns out to be a bore, I sure would like something interesting to read when I get home.
I served on a jury about two years ago. I thought it was VERY interesting. I was actually the last person picked, and was the only guy on a jury of seven for an assult case. The case involved a lot of “He-said-she-said” and that did wonders on the other jury members. It was amazing how people can’t see the clear picture when others start telling their sob stories. The acussed (male) had been drinking, and got into an argument with his “live-in” girlfriends teenage daughter, they argued then he pushed her after he was prevuked, then hit the mother after she dried to get between them. Real Jerry Springer stuff. Well by the time of the trial I think everybody was still living together and had wished they never got the police involved, but they did.
So in the jury room I just listened to what everybody had to say. I was also the Head Jurer, because none of the others wanted to do it. So they were all ready to let this guy off (I think); and when they finnaly asked me what I thought, I simply said…It’s our job to look at just the facts, that’s what the judge told us was our sole job here today. The fact is he physically assulted two people and that’s what he was arrested for. Whether or not any or all parties don’t want this to happen, it did and it’s our job to find him quilty or not based on the facts. The rest will be up to the court and the lawers to decide. Facts are Facts, he hit them and he was found quilty.
And I would like to do jury duty again if I could.