The Tuesday after President's Day holiday we started the jury process bright and early by having to be there at 7:45 AM. At that time about 250 of us were given instructions and watched a brief film about what to expect. We then were told names would be selected at random for about 75 of us. I was the second person called. We were required to fill out an additional questionnaire with questions regarding this specific case. The case was MURDER!!
I filled out the questionnaire and listed every single legal and police connection I had. Thinking it would for sure get me dismissed. I mean really, I personally know a court commissioner, a DEA agent, border patrol agents, police officers AND my Mom used to be a police dispatcher. I later found out that is exactly what got me chosen!!! We were seated on the jury and sworn in and told to report back on Wednesday for opening statements.
Wednesday started at 9:30 am and we put in a full day. At least I got to have lunch with Rob!! That was a great perk. But I knew right away this was going to be extra difficult to see and hear about. We had the rest of the week off. It seriously took me that entire time to recuperate.
This past week we were there for full days 9:30am - 4:30pm. Almost like a full time job except I was only getting paid a whopping $10 a day + mileage. On Wednesday afternoon the jury was given the case for deliberation and the sequestering began. Thank goodness we were able to go home at night but we had to spend lunch and our breaks together. We finally came to a unanimous decision on Friday, early afternoon. GUILTY as charged!
This was difficult for me personally. I was one of the hold outs. I couldn't vote guilty unless I KNEW without a shadow of a doubt she did this terrible act intentionally. And we did work through this together as a jury. The other 11 people I served with were amazing!! We weren't without our differing opinions but we talked them out and listened to one another's concerns. That's why it took us almost 2 days to deliberate.
After the verdict was entered the judge told us we were excused but if we wanted to stay in the jury room, he and both attorneys would come in to speak with us. So I stayed. Boy, was I glad I did. They gave us more insight to the case and why certain things were done and not done. The biggest thing was when we asked if the defendant had any prior convictions. The answer was YES!!! In 1994 she was convicted of manslaughter in the first degree for a similar crime (yes, someone was murdered) with a 5 year sentence. Let me tell you, that information clearly lifted a weight from all of our shoulders knowing that we really did do the right thing. We interpreted the evidence properly.
I had my 90 minute swedish massage that night! Now time to readjust into normal life!
1 comment:
I know almost exactly how you are feeling, remember when I had jury duty and the case was for child molestation? We were told after we delivered our guilty verdict that this was the 2nd time that particular case had gone to trial b/c the jury was previously hung. Jury duty is definitely not a fun job at all! Glad you made it through and it sounds like you definitely made the right verdict from the sounds of the previous conviction.
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