Interesting stories!
I sat on a jury in 1995, a first degree assault with a deadly weapon case. It was fascinating. We had a judge who was so biased against the defense that we discussed it in the jury room. We did convict this person. He spent the next 13 years in prison, and then came out and killed someone.
One thing I learned is how important it is for us to serve. I agree that it's a pain. But you really don't want all of our juries to consist of sweet little old ladies who watch daytime TV and discuss whether or not the defendant's mom raised him good. I mean it. We had about a half dozen ladies like this on the jury, and it was worrisome. Serving makes you understandable how important it is to try and make decisions according to law, and that it protects us all. So, within the bounds of what you can manage, please consider serving sometimes, to ensure that there are active, smart, engaged people on juries. Glad you did, Limewave.
Sorry. I don't usually make speeches like this.
Last edited by salsabike; 07-01-2011 at 08:10 AM.
"My predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved;I have been given much and I have given something in return...Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and an adventure." O. Sacks