Lately I have been unintentionally silent on the facebook. Partly because I don't hate the President or love guns, so I have nothing to add to the only two topics that regularly show up in my news feed. Mostly it is because I am dead boring and have done nothing worth announcing to the internet world. That nearly changed on Tuesday. I was in the process of thinking out how best to word the events of the day when I remembered that a couple of teenage girls follow me on the face and book. editor's note: If any children are reading this over your shoulder, you don't have to send them away just yet, but that moment is not too far away.
I have been on jury duty for the last three months. This has not inconvenienced me very much. I had to leave Kentucky a day early back in October to attend orientation, and I have had to be awake before 1 pm on Mondays to find out if I would be serving the next day. Every Monday when I called in, I was relieved to hear that I would not have to report. That is every Monday until this week, my last possible week to serve.
When I got to the courthouse Tuesday morning, the fourth floor already was full of people. My report time of 9:30 had come and gone when I eavesdropped on a nearby lawyer and his client discussing an offer from the prosecution. I decided that this was the cause of the delay and was delighted when the defendant decided to take the offer he was given. Unfortunately that was not the case I was there for. At 9:45 the potential jurors were called into the courtroom. Every seat in the house was full. From my previous jury experience I knew that they should not brought in that many potentials. editor's note: Ok that's far enough. Children go outside and play. Don't waste your youth on the internet. There will be plenty of time for that when you're my age. The reason for so many of us was apparent when they announced the three charges of rape of a child.
The judge asked if anyone knew the lawyers, the defendant, or the witnesses. The witnesses came into the courtroom in two groups and stood in a line in front of the judge. I was sitting even with the lineup so I couldn't see the witnesses other than just when they walked in and out of the courtroom. I only got a glimpse of the girl, but it was enough to see that she was wee. I really did not want to hear this trial. I regretted not wearing my Princess Leia costume.
18 names were called out to sit on the jury. To avoid any suspense, mine was the fifth name called. The two lawyers each got a turn to question the jury. I always wonder what answers I need to give to get me off the case. The prosecutor asked if we thought that marijuana should be legal. When someone said, "yes for medical reasons," the lawyer asked him that if he was on a marijuana jury, would he base his decision on the law or his preference. I can't figure out the reason for this questioning. Maybe this is his standard line of questioning that he asks every jury, but I can't imagine anyone who thinks that rape should be legal. I think that marijuana should be legal. It should be taxed and regulated like alcohol and tobacco. This country uses too much time, money, and jail cells combating marijuana. I didn't say all of this because I was confused about the prosecutor's intent, and I didn't want give the impression of being a user. The defense lawyer gave away his entire defensive strategy when he asked if we believed that children can and do lie and if they understand the consequences of their lies.
By the time they were finished it was 11:30. Each lawyer voted 4 jurors off the island, and thankfully I was one of those eliminated by the prosecutor. That cut the number of jurors down to 10. They called 6 more names 3 more times before they could settle on 12 jurors and the 2 alternates. The questioning was not as extensive as the first time, but by the fourth times through, I could singalong with the lawyers. It took until 1:00 to select the jury.
I was very happy when I was excused because I didn't want to have to sit through the three day trial. But the longer I sat there, the more my curiosity wanted to know more about the case. I considered sticking around to watch the trial, but I wasn't sure if that was allowed. I have had little success finding any information about the case from the interweb. I did learn that he was convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison, but couldn't read the whole Demozette article.
I would be lying if I said my feelings weren't hurt by being rejected from the jury. In my opinion rape is the worst possible crime, even worse than murder. Of course, there was no way for the prosecutor to know this. The facebook status I nearly posted was that he thought I looked like a child molester. I can't fault him for his jury selection though. He got 10 women on the jury, and both men looked like they were old enough to have daughters. My only sin was being in the wrong demographic.
