Posted on 08/11/2017 1:03:13 PM PDT by pabianice
If I had to do it again, I would make the same choice. The decision was unanimous among the jury from the start of our discussion. Although we felt sympathy for her, we all agreed that her driving had endangered others, and could have injured or even killed someone. We hoped she would learn that her actions had consequences.
But the knowledge that it was the right thing to do doesn’t erase the guilt I feel about saying the word “guilty.” In the courtroom, I didn’t see her as a defendant, or as a criminal, but as a person. I thought of how scared I would feel in her situation, waiting to hear my fate. I didn’t want to deliver the distressing news.
Even though I know that I have nothing to apologize for, I still wish I could. It’s hard to know that you’re a defining part of what is probably among a person’s worst memories. As difficult as it was for me to deliver the verdict, I can’t imagine what it was like for her to hear it, and for her hope to be destroyed by my words.
I had taken an oath to fulfill my duty as a juror, I had participated in the deliberation and then I had said just three words. “Yes. Guilty. Guilty.” I had fulfilled my legal duty, but I still feel that I haven’t fulfilled my moral duty. I wish I could add two more words: “I’m sorry.”
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycollegian.com ...
Some chick wrote this, right?
I have been on juries with women like her several times.
I voted GUILTY on my one jury assignment. I wish I could have sentenced him as well. The judge gave the scumbag a light sentence, so I felt like I wasted my time.
Posted by Jessica Primavera on August 2, 2017
I voted not guilty on my one criminal case. Prosecution utterly failed to provide any evidence that the defendant did the thing of which he was accused. Which was too bad. The defendant was certainly a creep, and probably guilty of something.
I googled her. She’s a cutie.
Hope she grows up and learns a thing or two.
>>> In the courtroom, I didn’t see her as a defendant, or as a criminal, but as a person. I thought of how scared I would feel in her situation, waiting to hear my fate.<<<
Automatic disqualification for ANY juror, regardless of the charges... I suppose a ‘jury of peers’ only means humanoids with a pulse?
Well, it was a pathetically-presented case in my trial as well. 10 jurors wanted to acquit and 1 was silent. So there was only me to read between the lines and convince everyone else that the perp HAD to be guilty. It turned out that this POS Mark Paulton had already murdered a statie in Fla, AND he had just been convicted of raping a 13 yo. All of this unknown to us, of course, before the verdict.
This much is correct. The defendant is a person, with all the rights any other person has, including the right to a fair trial. I may not like the defendant, but I MUST respect his rights.
I thought of how scared I would feel in her situation,
This part is dead wrong. The defendants feelings don't matter. The facts matter, the law matters, the defendant's right to a fair trial matters.
Her oeuvre:
http://dailycollegian.com/author/jessicaprimavera/
I think you got responses for several different women. They are cute.
I wonder how common this is.
My lawyer brother told me that the best lawyers usually don’t work 9-5 jobs with the government. BTW, that prosecutor is now a JUDGE in Lackawanna Co, Pa.
Once, a long time ago, I was called for jury duty. The very first question asked in the phase where they strike potential jurors was “What do you think about punishment?”
I had a few moments to compose my thoughts and for once I was not stumble-tongued.
I said: “For Justice to be honorable punishment is the only alternative to exoneration.”
In essence: not guilty MEANS not guilty, true, real legal exoneration of all charges (and no civil proceeding as a way to get a pound of flesh either, or so I’ve often argued). That or finding guilt and punishment.
The prosecutor and judge were nodding appreciatively. The defense attorney looked like he was about to have a heart attack from shock.
The lady next to me said: “Oh, that’s good!” and she wasn’t even allowed to finish her answer.
I haven’t been called again ... but I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.
To let the woman continue to drive drunk, recklessly, until someone is injured or killed? How would you FEEL then?
Had a similar discussion years ago, where the defendant was charged with murder, and there was no doubt he did it. Counsel claimed he had a low IQ and mental illness, so he didn't understand what he was doing.
If that's true, I said, why wouldn't he do it again?
Punishment is only part of Justice, IMO. Society has to be protected against people who abuse their liberties.
That's why lawyers strike them from ALL juries - civil, criminal, probate, you name it.
I wound up on a jury even though I'm a former insurance defense lawyer - just because it was such a bad pool that the lawyers said (in the post trial de-briefing, when I asked them, "What the )*(&(*%* were you THINKING?") that there were other folks they needed to get rid of a whole lot worse than they needed to get rid of me. Unemployed still living with parents, young college students, goofy hippie types, elderly hard-of-hearing, immigrants with questionable command of English, etc. etc.)
My late husband, on the other hand, was practically a professional juror. He got called 10-12 times over his lifetime, selected every time, elected foreman all but once (he said the guy in the suit really wanted to be foreman, so he deferred to him.) He really was a steady-looking fellow, long-time employee of a small company, technical background, unflappable. Everybody wanted him on their jury.
I have been on two juries. None of them ever made it to the verdict phase. One was ended when the defendant confessed. One was aborted after the prosecution made its case and demonstrated with Defense’s help that the police work was so shoddy that there was no way to actually link the evidence to the defendant and some doubt whether it was even linked to the incident at question.
She voted guilty. She did not disagree with verdict. The comments here are over the top.
What an idiot
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.