Last week I had jury duty. I deeply believe that we should all be good citizens and do our civic duty.
I have to say my hubby may be right when he says the world is populated by idiots. Evidently a lot of them live in my area.
Criminals are not known as the most intelligent segment of the population. But honestly, half the people who were witnesses in the trial I was picked for were not much more erudite. And some people say the more intelligent you are, the better your excuses are to get out of jury duty!
Well, I didn't. Get out of serving, I mean.
Jury selection was interesting. Three dozen people showed up. We were numbered, in some mysterious order known only to the bailiffs. We lined up and the first 21 were seated in the jury box area.
I was number 22.
Questions were asked and answered. One person stated that they were unable to set aside a prior experience to give a fair and impartial opinion. The judge excused that person.
The judge said "Number 22, please replace the excused juror." Or words to that effect.
OK, more questions asked and answered. The judge said "We will now do jury selection, or more like deselection. If your name is called, please stand."
My name was not called. Those standing left. Dismissed. For the next FOUR years.
So, on to testimony, witnesses, the whole nine yards. The rest of the day was very interesting. The defense attorney was a large, loud brutish-appearing man, but he didn't seem uneducated. The prosecutor bore a close resemblance to my oldest granddaughter. Smart and beautiful all at once!
Some of the witnesses though. Well, I have to give them a pass on total cluelessness, because the trial was for a crime committed in 2019. Bad covid! But really, would you not remember something as momentous as the theft of your property?
Oh, did I mention alcohol was involved?
😲
So...
I guess this serves as a life lesson. Yes, there is bad out there. And a whole lot of dumb and dumber.
And at the end of a couple of hours of what passed for deliberation, one very rude and obnoxious 19 year old and a couple of whatever the current name is for the school of "oh, the poor thing wasn't raised like us in a nice house and how could they possibly know that it was a CRIME??" managed to skew the concept of reasonable doubt, emphasis on reasonable. I found myself in a minority. Of one.
I caved. I was unwilling to keep us all weekend, and unwilling to send back a no-verdict verdict and make the State do it all over again for the amount of money that was in question.
I believe right is right and wrong is wrong. Actions should have consequences. But I also believe in the Law of Diminishing Returns.
The defendant will be back in court I'm sure. And probably sooner rather than later. The cops will be waiting. And the prosecutor will be more ready next time.
Rock on...
