Jury duty.

jsmurphy · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:56 pm Post subject: Jury duty.

I just finished one of the worst week and 2 days of my life. This is about a murder trial concerning a shooting outside a tavern. I was on the jury and was the Presiding Juror (foreman). They even used my hat to put the numbers in to be drawn from to decide who the foreman was. “BAD HAT” We could not agree on the second degree murder charge and had to go to the first degree manslaughter charge. I have never been and never want to again be in this position. It was an experience to say the least and now we can talk about it. None of us had much doubt he was guilty of the murder charge, but the defining evidence wasn’t presented to us that would have given us that that verdict, so therefore that provided the “reasonable doubt” as to "intent". With the forensics and all of the technology we have these days, the investigation should have been done a lot better. In our state we have the additional charge of "use of a firearm in the commission of the crime" that will add to the sentencing. I am not saying that being on a jury of this magnitude was a horrible experience, I just wouldn't want to have to do it again, but I would if called.

gelandangan · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:15 am Post subject: Re: Jury duty.

Now that you are in, your probability to get called again would be a lot higher.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:29 am Post subject: Re: Jury duty.

I figure if I say "Just hang them ALL!" whenever questioned for jury duty I'll be able to avoid it.

SwampFox · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Jury duty.

Hey Murph,
If you just did 9 day it must have been a done deal to start with. Wasn't exactly like Perry Mason, was it?
Ed

wncchester · Member Joined: Apr 08, 2006 Posts: 160

I understand your perdiciment but feel that the courts have mislead people as to the proper function of a "jury of peers." Our founding fathers were pretty bright men and gave us not only the 2nd Amendment but the concept of a jury of non-lawyers or judges. That was so the people could inject some common sense into the verdicts but our courts have corrupted the idea and lead the juries into acting as if the legal questions are more important than common sense justice.

The right to making vertic belongs to the jury alone, not the judge or lawyers. I don't think I would have accepted bullying from the court on the question. If I were in your shoes the culprit would have been convicted for what he did or the judge would have declared a mistrial.

Only if the public is educated and allowed to function as they are supposed to in court can our current "legal" system become a fair "justice" system.

jsmurphy · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject: Re: Jury duty.

Wncchester, I understand fully but I was glad to get what we did because there were a couple we had to convince it wasn't self defence and let him walk.
As an update to my original post, the newspaper today listed his previous convictions of felony drug possession and the seven additional felony gun violations they still have to try him on. He is being held on $2,000,000.00 bond right now pending sentencing.

SwampFox · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: Jury duty.

It is my understanding that in the colonies it was against the law to practice law as a lawyer. So we have indeed come a long way. Today virtually every state has a legislature that is 51% or better lawyers.
Ed