Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Citizen kj

Scene 1: Eleven women and seven men, all white, file into a large room with eight rows of plastic chairs to watch a video on the court system and how to be a juror. Each is given a number. I am # 5.
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Scene 2: All eighteen people are escorted to courtroom # 2 and asked to sit down. The presiding judge introduces himself and one by one each of the attorneys, the defendant, and all the witness stand and turn to the jurors to introduce themselves by name.
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Scene 3: Seven numbers are called out and those jurors are escorted to the jury seats, which looks just like it does on television. I am not selected.
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Scene 4: Four of the seven jurors are then dismissed for reasons that are not explained. They are free to go home.
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Scene 5: I am called as a juror, followed by three other people. Everyone remaining is thanked and told they can go home
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Scene 6: The judge explains what will happen. The defendant is an Hispanic male charged with a criminal count of assault and battery. He must be found innocent if the State Attorney does not present evidence that he is guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt." In order to be found guilty, all six jurors must agree.
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Scene 7: Both lawyers explain what evidence they will be presenting.
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Scene 8: First Witness for the Prosecution. Mr. S explains he was sitting in his car in an apartment complex parking area when the defendant, who was dating his girlfriend's sister, walked up and greeted him. They exchanged pleasantries and the defendant turned to leave, but instead swung around and punched him in the face, breaking his nose. Mr. S. was pulled from the car, blood everywhere, and they scuffled.
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Scene 9: Second Witness for the Prosecution: Police Officer was called by a neighbor who reported a fight. When he arrived, no one was in the parking lot but he observed a puddle of blood beside Mr. S's car and drips of blood on the inside door. He knocked on several apartments and finally found Mr. S, who was icing his face. Police Officer is asked to draw a map of the apartment buildings and the location of both Mr. S's car and the blood drops.
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Scene 10: First Witness for the Defense: Mr F, the defendant explained he came out of his girlfriend's apartment holding his one year old son and with his girlfriend and they noticed three men standing in front of their car. The men started yelling at him. He said they approached the car and Mr. S shoved him, so he punched him in the face in self defense. He said when Mr. S got up and ran to his car, he and his girlfriend drove away fast because they did not know if he was going to get a weapon.
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Scene 11: Second Witness for the Defense: Mr. F's girlfriend collaborated Mr. F's story. She is asked to draw the location of Mr. F's car, which she notes is a short distance behind Mr. S's car.
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Scene 12: Rebuttal Witness for the Prosecution: Mr. S's girlfriend, who is the sister of Mr. F's girlfriend, reported she called her sister after Mr. S told her what happened and her sister said, "I don't know anything about this" and hung up on her.
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Scene 13: The lawyers give closing arguments. Both acknowledge that the versions of what happened are 100% different from each other.
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The jury is escorted to a chilly room and discuss the evidence over sandwiches.
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Scene 14: The jurors think every one is lying. They then examine whether or not Mr. F acted in self defense, and they cannot reconcile Mr. F's story because if the fight took place in front of his car, why was the pool of blood in front of Mr S's car?
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Scene 15: Within an hour, there is consensus for a guilty verdict.
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Scene 16: The jury files back in the courtroom, the verdict is read, the defendant has no reaction, and Mr. S's girlfriend makes the sign of the cross.
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Epilogue: Juror kj thinks the correct verdict was reached. But the case seemed frivolous. Neither Mr. S or Mr. F reported the fight to the police, neither presented a motive, which obviously existed but was not discussed by either attorney, and it was the state, not either man, who pressed charges. The case came to light only because a neighbor involved the police.
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Still, Ms. kj completed her civic duty and found it all pretty interesting. She then arrived home by 3 PM, took Stella for a walk in the park, checked her blog, worked on her taxes, called her good friend, talked to JB who is in Iowa City on business, fixed dinner, and fell asleep on the couch.

The End.

19 comments:

  1. That sounds like an easy one. I am so glad it was not anything more serious. I agree-they were ALL lying :-).

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  2. This post sparkles like a great script. Loved it.
    I served on only one jury, in 1989. A young Hispanic man accused of selling drugs in a downtown park. Pretty slam-dunk for the jurors, most who thought he was guilty. One held out for a couple hours then came round to our impressions. It really was interesting.

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  3. Hmmm Shouldn't the title here be Citizen KJ Babes?

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  4. actually, not so easy, annie. if this had been the evidence for a murder trial, where the stakes were high, i'm not sure how we wix people would have even decided...

    lydia, you use the word 'sparkle' and i want to kiss you! thank you!

    miladysa, of course. what was i thinking??

    suki, i'm embarassed to say i have to look this up.... :)

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  5. What an upstanding citizen you are.

    xoxo

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  6. Our tax dollars hard at work ;P

    Put them both in jail until they learn how to behave. And for goodness sakes, tell them to stop bringing babies into their messes.

    Sorry, you know I don't usually rant :)

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  7. I never got to serve as a juror, but I'd like to. You were lucky that it wasn't some awful trial that lasted months.

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  8. I can just see you, kj, sitting there...pondering the pros and cons. Actually, to be more accurate I could picture you as the judge - infinitely more fitting for a woman of your stature, m'dear.

    Oh, it is lovely to be back...I'm now off to play catch-up on all your recent posts. I know I'm in for some great reading! xxx

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  9. Sounds short and sweet, the jury I was on lasted days and days...we found him guilty. He was either the king pin, or really dumb.

    much love!

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  10. I've never been called for jury duty-I hate to say that too often lest my streak is broken.

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  11. Always interesting to have the experience,,,see how the system works.
    Or in some cases how it doesn't work.
    Glad you had a nice evening anyway, and yes,,,,good job, you good citizen you!

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  12. Sweet kj if your Dad is anywhere near that bench well I can tell you he'd be sitting on it by now because both my Dad and Sheldon would tell him to join them.

    Do I look like my Dad? I do and I don't.

    Love Renee xoxo

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  13. renee, haha, i am a citizen up standing because all the chairs were taken.

    lo, haha, you know, i just love the way you think and talk.

    dedene, i would have been in a huge jam if the trial had gone even 2 or 3 days. i was so shocked to have to show up at all i didn't get to worrying about that real possibility.

    tessa, imagine my joy seeing your avatar here? imagine that joy as large as a house. i miss you when you're not around. and i'm glad you're back. xoxox

    stacey, welcome back. it was quite interesting, huh, seeing how people think and don't think. much love back to you.

    it wasn't so bad, soul. really. xo

    debra kay, it was my first time. now i'm off the hook.

    ah, it's kjbabe, deb. :)

    babs, see comment above. :) it actually was interesting. i love learning and doing new things.

    sweet renee, may i stop by for coffee?

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  14. So... brings up the questions: Should a non-participant observer call the police or not? Is this a waste of time and money?

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  15. Well! Have you done jury duty before? I've served several times in three states no less. Last time, I was on a grand jury that ran for six months (though not continuously) and heard nothing but child abuse cases. Another time, I got kicked off a jury because I told the judge that I would only follow his directions if they didn't violate my conscience. Judges hate it when that happens. Mostly though, I enjoy jury duty.

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