Jury duty today-
 

I had jury duty today and was selected in a criminal mischief case; destroying personal property. Lasted all day, damn is that courthouse was chilly! I was voted foreman and we deliberated for about an hour after starting out with some differing verdicts among us. We came to a consensus after reviewing the three parts of our instructions of which one part was clearly not proven to beyond a reasonable doubt. Two women with a woman alternate, one juror of less than 20 years old, one over 70, two black jurors, three white and one hispanic who appeared to be mixed, three of the six were born outside the USA. The defendant was black. Short trial- just that day so it's over. It was my first time as foreman, and the whole day went quickly; just wish we could have more breaks for food, lol.

Served twice and was chosen as foreman both times. One was a DUI. Took a second to figure out why it went to trial then it dawned on me that it was his third strike. After we acquitted the Asst DA came into pick our brains. She confirmed my suspicion.

Second case was an insurance company being sued by a hotel for not paying on a fire claim. As I recall we split the rewards 70/30 in favor of the hotel.

I enjoyed it. Gave me more faith in the judicial system. As screwed up as it is, the jurors in the room with me all took it very seriously. The system seems to work most of the time I think.

I am surprised the AssDA was allowed to interact like that. Would the defendant or his attorney be allowed that?

After a verdict, if jurors want to and the court allows it, juror feedback to all parties is common.

I know a guy that got railed at sentencing because after the verdict (no to felony, lesser included of 'otherwise disorderly') he was in the parking lot getting into his vehicle and some jurors walked up. He said thanks. The judge ( 4th arm of the prosecution type) used it against him.

I also note that Dave said something to the effect: and then we moved on to the next case...

Schmoozing the jury between cases? Almost looks like the subsequent cases could object if it didn't go their way.

Sorry, this went over my head. What did she confirm?
I think he's talking about the two separate instances that he's served on a jury, not two back-to-back occurrences. I can't really think of a situation where one would serve on back-to-back cases.

Great experience and thank you DM for your jury duty service. I'm quite glad the trial was as short one. $15 a day doesn't buy enough food to ward off the cold... lol.

That explains why the stamps peeps benefits max out around 5. Dey loves da cold!

Third strike. I could not figure out why someone would take a DUI case to trial. The fact that he was going back to jail if he was found guilt made sense.

Yes. Two separate cases with a year or two in between.

Sorry for the confusion.

I was working for the airline at the time and they paid me my salary while I was on jury duty. The insurance trial was about a week as I recall, the DUI was just a few days.

I'd like to get called again and would like to be on a criminal trial. I do not want to be on one involving a violent crime. Something involving business fraud or something would be pretty cool.

I am not sure why so many people try to get out of serving. Aside from financial hardship I think people should want to. Learn about the system that helps keep our society somewhat civil.

Just got this in mail today. So excited!

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1448748573

Guilty! Guilty as sin. Guilty guilty guilty!

I served on a trial at the Los Angeles Superior Court that lasted almost two weeks.

I can't remember all of the charges against the two defendants, but IIRC correctly there were at least seven charges, the worst of which were murder in the first degree, assault with a deadly weapon (a knife), assault with a deadly weapon (a gun), evading arrest, child abuse, kidnapping, burglary, etc.

The two defendants committed all of the above crimes over a period of about a week.

We found them guilty on all counts on every charge. Even the first degree portion of the murder charge.

We found out after the verdict that they were gang members of a violent gang. They would not let us leave the courthouse in the normal way. We were escorted out through the back hallways of the courthouse, down a special elevator, out of a back door of the courthouse, and escorted across the street to our cars by about two dozen police officers.

It was an emotional, unique experience.

Needless to say, I was concerned about being followed home, so I pretended to be CIA, and didn't drive directly home. I went about 24 miles in the opposite direction, got on and off the freeway randomly, made sudden U-turns, etc. :D

I have always wanted to serve on a jury. I came close this year on a felony DWI case involving a minor. After all day of jury selection, they declared a mistrial.

My boss was gone for a month recently on a capital murder case involving a murder of a police officer. That must have been tough.