Juror #1

[horizon_greene]

Nothing puts you in the holiday spirit quite like finding a defendant guilty of a felony drug charge, but some things (like timing, or someone else's poor decision-making) can't be helped.

I've been summoned for jury duty twice previously in my life, but this third stint was the first time I actually served on a trial.

Very interesting and educational experience overall. A lot of people openly dread jury duty, but I have to say that I loved it. Loved how ritualized and highly procedural everything was, loved the hours (10:30am – 4:30pm, 1.5 hour lunch break, 15 minute afternoon break), loved being downtown during the daytime, with all the associated bustle and full spectrum of open restaurants. (I live downtown but work in a different section of central Phoenix, so I never get to see any of this during a weekday.) I even liked going through the security screening twice daily, whatever that may say about me.

I kind of wish it were possible to be a professional juror and do this all the time.

Comments

[lights-source.livejournal.com]

I loved this. You are so open to experiences that everyone else is ready to hate before they even happen.

;-)

[horizon-greene.livejournal.com]

Life is all about the random experiences that you never quite expect. People who don't want to try (new) things are probably missing out on some cool stuff!

[sunsetfog.livejournal.com]

How long was your trial?

I've been called for jury duty nearly every year, but have only served once. Of course, that turned into pretty much my worst nightmare-- a 3 week lawsuit on botched plastic surgery with lots of graphic pictures. (I'm very squeamish about medical stuff.) It was really interesting, but by the end of deliberations, 9/11 of the other jurors hated me for being one of the holdouts on some point and being kind of bitchy during deliberations because I thought the defense lawyer was trying to pull one over on us with some statistics. I gave a mini math lecture, which I think no one listened to because they were so annoyed with me. Normally, I try to avoid disagreements with people in person, but being a juror really brought out the pedantic, stubborn side of me.

I'd do it again, though. ;)

[horizon-greene.livejournal.com]

One day to select the jury, then two full days for the actual trial/deliberations.

Your trial does sound like it would give someone the willies, but like you say, very interesting at the same time! Were you able to convince the other jurors of the merit of your arguments, or did you end up going over to their side? (The deliberation was by far the most fascination portion of the trial for me!)

[sunsetfog.livejournal.com]

(back from out of town)

I never gave in, but you only need 9 people for a majority on a civil case, so we ended up deciding but I was in the minority. I'll probably never be selected for a jury again, because that tends to be one of the questions they use to weed out pain-in-the-ass people like me. ("Have you ever been on a jury?" "Was the decision unanimous?" "Were you in the majority?")

[ecl1958.livejournal.com]

Kudos to anyone who can handle this sort of thing and actually enjoy it. I am unable to for many, many reasons -- including but not limited to my almost violent distaste for authority figures and security screenings, my own mental and physical health issues, and my strong opposition to certain laws. I've been called a few times but have THANKFULLY never had to serve. And now that I'm able to get medical excuses from multiple professionals, I'm hopeful that I never will.

[horizon-greene.livejournal.com]

A lot of people have serious issues with jury duty, for a number of reasons. No worries—I'll happily take their turn :D