I recently was called up for Jury Duty

[Horse with no Name]

for federal court.

A young black man was defendant. The heavy presence of Federal Marshals' was pretty overwhelming. The US Attorney and her entourage was pretty intimidating--considering this young man had ONE attorney present and his mama...and the crimes he was being charged with certainly deserved a little more than this one attorney could provide.

Jury selection was really interesting to watch the stereotypes being used in the process. At the end of the day, this guy didn't end up with a jury of his peers--or even close, but felt like his attorney did the best he could. There was a heavy minister and teacher presence on the jury--which no doubt represented people that could forgive a young man for mistakes.

What I found remarkable, this kid was 20 when the crime was committed. EVERY young person in the jury pool was dismissed. I thought this was one tactic precluded this kid from getting a fair trial.

I didn't get chosen, as out of 50, only ONE middle aged white woman was selected. I also "get" why they did this.

The thing was, had a conversation with another potential juror who didn't understand WHY this defendant was wasting the courts time...and that juror made it.

It doesn't seem to me, that someone who felt like someone did NOT deserve a trial for a crime that could send him away for a life sentence, that this person should be able to pass through the selection process and hold this kid's life in their hands.

This kid ended up getting convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Last time I had jury duty

there was a lady there who told the judge she had a bowel condition and needed to be near a bathroom 24/7. Judge didn't say a thing - just excused her. :)

[robinlynne]

2. you should let someone know that juror said that before the trial.

seriously.

[MissB]

4. This.

[robinlynne]

12. actually it is that.

[MADem]

3. You didn't tip the defendant's lawyer about the potential juror's comments?

Sounds like grounds for an appeal or at least a new trial.

[Horse with no Name]

6. No.

The conversation had to do with the limited details we were given. He would have just said he was joking and honestly? he might have been--again with the limited facts of the case which WERE pretty hard to believe--but the point of it was that basically this guy had a "if the cops caught him, he is guilty" attitude.
I took it as ignorance--because I felt this kid had one shot to stay out of jail...even as farfetched as his story was.

[robinlynne]

11. mistrial. that juror should not have served. That info may get the young man a new trial.

[Horse with no Name]

14. I had no idea

Will contact a friend tomorrow about what I heard. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[MADem]

18. Ouch. I can't speak to what you should have done, because I was not there.

In a generic sense, I think I'd feel uncomfortable, though, if anyone started chatting about abrogating any part of the justice system, particularly when there was a life sentence on the line for the defendant.

Even if the guy was joking (Let the wheel of justice spin, bring the guilty bastard in, for example), I think I'd rather toss that call to the judge, or the defense lawyer, so he or she could make the decision to try to have the guy excused for cause. I don't think that would count against his voir dire quota in that case.

[midnight]

5. I'm frustrated to read that jury selection is so incapable of providing the defendent

with a jury of his peers...

[Horse with no Name]

8. Me too

He did not have ONE person that could be considered his "peer" on that jury. They were all dismissed.:(

[bluestateguy]

7. Was this a drug trafficking case?

You'd have a hard time getting me to ever convict anyone for non-violent drug crimes. You want to talk about a waste of taxpayer money?

[Horse with no Name]

9. That was one of the charges. n/t

[Skittles]

10. ? you should have reported that juror

that's just bullshit

[Horse with no Name]

13. Honestly didn't know we could

I will talk to a friend who is an attorney and find out how to pass this information on.

[The Genealogist]

16. Definitely do!

The information you have suggests he may not have gotten a fair trial. This juror sounds like he or she already had the decision made before being selected.

[elleng]

17. I am an attorney.

Contact defendant's attorney and assistant d.a. and clerk of the court immediately.

[Skittles]

20. thanks elleng

I wasn't sure what I would have done, but I would have done something. If people cannot be fair and reserve judgment until evidence has been presented, they should just admit that up front and be done with it because they don't support our judicial system. :mad:

[elleng]

21. Right, Skittles, AND not serve on juries, not pretend they can be fair-minded

when questioned initially.

[elleng]

15. Sorry you had such an experience.

Federal trial for which I served as a juror very different, and judge would not have put up with scenario you describe.

[udbcrzy2]

19. It sounds like all of the jury agreed on the conviction

Otherwise it would have been a hung jury. A life sentence sounds pretty serious. Was it a murder trial? There are some very violent young men/women in our society who have no regard for human life whatsoever.

If given another trial it could end up being worse for the defendant, he could get more time beyond a life sentence = 180 years or something like that.