Not-a-juror

[hrj]

I wasn't empaneled. I wasn't even interrogated. Is it egotistical to feel deeply disappointed? (The annoying thing is that I've never gotten to be an actual juror, and this is the first time I've been called up when it would actually be rather convenient -- particularly given the projected short trial.) Ah well. I guess I have to work for half a day, then.

Comments

[visc-lore.livejournal.com]

I don't blame you for feeling disappointed. I've been on two juries, and both were fascinating. Sure, there was some waiting, and some stupid-lawyering, and some bickering amongst ourselves when trying to come to a decision - but I felt it was an honor to serve, and weighed my personal decision by asking whether I would have been internally satisfied if the defendant had been a relative, AND if the victim had been.

Better luck next time!

[tonwen.livejournal.com]

I was empanelled once, much to my very great surprise. Usually, I get dismissed before I finish saying "I'm a clinical psychologist."

The case I was on was domestic violence/wife beating. It was obvious to me that the husband was completely guilty, but most of the rest of the jurors thought the wife was lying because her story changed from the day she had the crap beaten out of her and the day she testified. I was wholly ineffective in trying to explain the whys of that to the other jurors. The case ended with a hung jury. While I and one of the other jurors were walking out of the court house, we walked by the defendant and his attorney. The attorney was chewing him out for "getting into this mess AGAIN" and if he kept this up, one day, a jury was going to send his ass to jail.

All in all, it was a very disappointing experience.