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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
Scene 4: Four of the seven jurors are then dismissed for reasons that are not explained. They are free to go home.
.
Scene 5: I am called as a juror, followed by three other people. Everyone remaining is thanked and told they can go home
.
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.
.
Scene 7: Both lawyers explain what evidence they will be presenting.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
:
Scene 13: The lawyers give closing arguments. Both acknowledge that the versions of what happened are 100% different from each other.
.
The jury is escorted to a chilly room and discuss the evidence over sandwiches.
.
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?
.
Scene 15: Within an hour, there is consensus for a guilty verdict.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.