Effing jury duty

[TexPx 2323]

I get what you said about teachers, but am laughing because that's the opposite of me.  Believe it or not, the jury I served on was commandeered by two flight attendants fitting that description.

I would have been humming this tune.

“Sanitation expert and a maintenance engineer
Garbage man, a janitor and you my dear
A reunion flight attendant my oh my
You ain't nothing but a waitress in the sky
You ain't nothing but a waitress in the sky”

[Speedtrucker 2071]

I struck an engineer in a federal case a few years ago.  Just happened to be the only black person in the panel and the Plaintiff was black.  Judge Sparks took us back to chambers for a sua sponte Batson challenge.  I started to explain that he was struck because he was an engineer and the Plaintiff's attorney cut me off with his agreement.  No one wants engineers on the jury.

Batson challenge is always a big consideration in EDTX outside of the Plano jury pools.

[markstanco 12582]

Fun one a few years ago, maybe 2018.

I was head juror and some crackhead broke in to a section 8 apartment. 4 witnesses saw him enter and leave with one of those combo VCR/TV setups and 3 Gatorades. Mind you those are worth maybe $20 at a pawn shop. (The tv and the gatorades probably have similar values)

We decided guilty within 10 minutes. His lawyer thought we decided too fast and wanted the judge to do the sentencing so we were dismissed but before we walked out I asked the jury what they think. Well all said 30 days.

Judge gave him 2 years (maybe 3) since he broke in to a home. I know because I called back the next day to see what happened.

[Knoxtnhorn 6061]

I can't recall which side it was, but the lawyers did not want anyone experienced in accounting.  The defendant was gaming the system by moving this purchase over here and that car title over there.  During selection, anyone with accounting experience was eliminated.  I thought that was odd.

[TwiceHorn 31509]

I suppose the bias against engineers is mostly anecdotal/experiential.  

But, as an engineer and a law dog, I can relate that engineers analyze, in many ways a lot like lawdogs.  But when you have engineers independently re-analyzing something, there's a large risk they come to a different conclusion.

Whenever you give something over to a judge or a jury for an independent decision, you often find that they see things differently than either party has argued or apparently viewed the case themselves.  They often bring up something as decisive or important that nobody thought important before.

So, with that being a known feature of a "new" fact-finder, you can't have someone re-analyzing the evidence, if you can help it.

The other thing about engineers is that their analyses tend to dispense with "noise," things they think are insignificant to the outcome.  And sometimes law is all about the "noise."

[TexPx 2323]

My wife got a summons last month. I got one exactly one week later. WTF

[Knoxtnhorn 6061]

Didn't get selected; however, it was a pain in the ass process.

Check in at 8.

Outside the courtroom by 9.  Told that we'd either be selected or let go by 11.  Nothing.

At noon, we finally go in.  Two hours of attorney questioning/statements.  Told to recess for 20 mins to get the jury selected.  Hour and a half later, and I'm not picked.  Walked out after 3.  Geez. 

The case, btw, was some Mexican dude who had been busted dealing 8 (grams?) of meth.  He had just pled guilty, so the trial would have been for the punishment - 5-99 years.  One dumb chick asked the judge what meth was.  Perhaps she was playing 3-D chess and figured a question like that would preclude her from serving.  Anyway, it was only supposed to a be a 2-day thing, so I'm kind of disappointed in not getting picked.

One last thing.  It's rare to be in a room of your random peers and find out how absolutely, GD stupid much the population is.  The question that took 2 hours to answer took several different explanations from the judge, as well as both sets of attorneys.  Would you be wiling to consider the entire spectrum of punishment?  I.E. min of 5; max of 99.  Obviously, 99 years is extreme - even for most anti-drug sorts; however, most couldn't distinguish between considering and doing.  The defense attorneys were wrapping themselves in knots because they were going lose a huge segment of those that would probably be favorable to their cause.  The judge actually had to change the wording of the question, so the defense didn't lose over 50% of those present.

[Texas Jeff 1945]

On 11/28/2023 at 4:29 PM, Knoxtnhorn said:

It's rare to be in a room of your random peers and find out how absolutely, GD stupid much the population is.

I was once in a room of 60 folks, some of whom were going to be on the jury.

The judge said "If you are a convicted felon, you cannot serve, please come forward and I will dismiss you."  No one moved.  The judge then said "If you are not certain if you are convicted felon or not, please come forward and we will discuss it."  Three people needed to talk to the judge.  Two left the room, one had to sit back down.

[Knoxtnhorn 6061]

18 hours ago, Texas Jeff said:

I was once in a room of 60 folks, some of whom were going to be on the jury.

The judge said "If you are a convicted felon, you cannot serve, please come forward and I will dismiss you."  No one moved.  The judge then said "If you are not certain if you are convicted felon or not, please come forward and we will discuss it."  Three people needed to talk to the judge.  Two left the room, one had to sit back down.

Almost forgot.  After two hours of explaining a simple concept to the jury pool, the last defense attorney asked if anyone had any questions.  A 40-ish year-old woman raised her hand and asked what methamphetamine was.

[shadow_operative2.0 16006]

Well, you didn't really forget. 

On 11/28/2023 at 4:29 PM, Knoxtnhorn said:

One dumb chick asked the judge what meth was. 

[beer 3220]

Think I dodged one.  Went Monday 8am and after 5 hours got sent to a courtroom where they did all the jury bullshit.  Explained it was a capital murder case. They said to be expected to finish before Christmas. The first dozen cut were doctors and lawyers so I am back home now with an extra $25 burning a hole in my pocket. 

[shadow_operative2.0 16006]

Damn, only get $7 for the first day in FW. 

[Guest]

3 hours ago, shadow_operative2.0 said:

Damn, only get $7 for the first day in FW. 

Are you a doctor or lawyer?

[beer 3220]

I billed them for $742.19