Weekend Open Thread

AndSoItGoes April 8, 2016, 3:06 pm

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  Addie Pray April 8, 2016, 3:09 pm

  Haha me too

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    AndSoItGoes April 8, 2016, 3:11 pm

    I legitimately want to know more about the cult-like dynamics going on with Drew’s jury.

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    Addie Pray April 8, 2016, 3:19 pm

    Me too. Maybe Drew can be convinced to write about his experience after it’s over? Yes, Drew?
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    I have only one experience relating to jury duty, and it was on the other end of it (as an attorney selecting jurors during voir dire). I’ve only gotten to do that once, as I’m not really a litigator. Anyway, I found the whole experience very moving. To see our system at work, to see all walks of life walk in, in a line, eager (for the most part) to perform their civic duty. Really, I found it very moving, and everyone seemed to take it very seriously, as they should. I get moved to tears when I see things like that. I kept tearing up and would then fake yawn so my colleagues would just think they were from yawning. But I was really moved, I don’t know, hard to explain. Being in that courtroom, like that. I was also moved when we’d make assumptions about jurors (like you must; I mean, our job is to use our instincts and the little information we have to select the best jurors for our client) that were shattered. For example, this one woman ended up being a physician and when asked her thoughts on equal pay, basically told a story about an issue she had with unequal pay, and it was very moving and more or less EXACTLY the case we were about to present to the jury, and for various reasons I thought we’d want to exclude her. (Of course, defense counsel did strike her.) Anyway, moving. It’s very moving. I’ve now said “moving” a ton of times. Point is, I can see how being on a jury would be a great experience.

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    AndSoItGoes April 8, 2016, 3:40 pm

    I’ve only be called once and watching the jury selection was fascinating and worrisome in my case. Both lawyers allowed people to be selected that, it seemed to me, should have been disqualified. It was a domestic violence case and a woman that ended up being seated on the jury said that she’d been abused in the past, could not go into the case with an open mind, and assumed that the defendant was guilty. I was shocked. Both lawyers were young, though, so maybe that explains it?

    I also found it disappointing how difficult it was for potential jurors to answer the actual questions asked by the lawyers or judge. It was a strange experience. I’m glad yours was better.

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    Addie Pray April 8, 2016, 4:33 pm

    My experience was also kind of funny. We were in the south, and I was shocked how much religion is work on the sleeve, so to speak. Shocked but not shocked, but shocked. Everyone wore crosses. You just don’t see that where I live. And then, even though no one was asked about their religious affiliation, when each person stood up to introduce themselves and answer the specific questions that the lawyers crafted for the judge to read, EVERYONE first announced their church affiliation. (“My name is Bob and I’m a Christian, been a member of ‘such and such’ church since I was a kid” etc.)

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    Abbytoo April 11, 2016, 12:00 pm

    I was summoned for jury duty last year (big case – murder & attempted murder) and went to selection assuming that the lawyers would ask questions. Instead, they lined 12 people up at a time, confirmed their names, jobs, and addresses and then gave them the opportunity to explain if serving on a jury would cause hardship. No other questions were asked. It almost looked like decisions were being made from demographic info alone. After watching for hours, it also looked like the defense was removing women from the jury so I was practicing my bitch face, just in case. They went through 75 people but got their 14 before I was called. I was super happy not to serve on a 2 month long murder trial, but a little dissapointed that TV and movies had led me astray about the experience! Due in no small part to the difference in legal systems here in Canada, I’m sure.

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