Have you ever had to serve on a jury, and if yes, how would you rate the experience ? ( Archived) (3)

I served 5 weeks, and sat two trials. One was rather long-Friday - to Friday. Years later, while describing that trial, a fellow in the bar ver sanctimoniously told me that I, and the eleven other jurors, had voted inappropriately, because of this and that. I chose not to argue. However, here, I want to explain a key element regarding jury trials. Convening a trial means the defendants are challenging the charges. If everything was slam-dunk, then the outcome would be settled. But a jury is asked to determine an outcome based, frequently, on circumstances, probababilities, and, exponentially troubling, gray area. The public may read about a supposed crime/incident, and sometimes righteously, form an opinion/desired outcome, but a jury digs deep, down to bedrock, and has at their disposal, much, much more information. For example, two things helped decide our ruling: the correct usage and meaning of ONE WORD, and a tiny notation on an “arrow” sticky-note. Minor, perhaps, but evidence the “public” could not factor in. I’m really not trying to sound condescending, but people (in general) need to look before they leap, and not rashly make up their minds...there is a beloved physician STILL in prison, convicted of murdering his wife. He is systematically prevented from having his case heard again. The law appears stubborn. Virtually everyone, including myself, supports him. He didn’t do it. But public opinion was so unbalanced at the time, it polluted the jury..my six-bits for today

Well said

I got called once..but I had already booked my overseas vacation and had proof, so they ‘let me go’.