First Week on Jury Duty - Here is my though on jury duty, if its going to gain the state, then I hang the jury.. don't care what the issue is If its two parties then thats a different case but if its the state vs the defendant.. there isn't a case where the state can be depriv

Newbie Joined: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 46

Wow, it's been a week.

O.K. I reported for Jury Duty this week, and was immediately assigned a case and finally selected as a juror. We wrapped the case late Wednesday and I'm still on the hook for duty until the end of next week.

The case we heard was interesting. The case is sealed and unlike many cases, it cannot be discussed, ever. In this case, the State received the decision it was seeking, although the deliberations were emotionally draining, and very serious.

But, as a participant, I learned a lot about certain aspects of our court system. Especially those in the State of Washington. I also learned that unlike many states, Washington has some fairly unique aspects of its Constitution that indicate the framers of the it were very far sighted when it comes to liberties and rights.

Now, side point, I got turned around in the court house, ended up in the basement and had to take the elevator back up to the floor that had upstairs exit. A young couple, obviously in the courthouse for a divorce and custody hearing got on the elevator and the woman was so completely needling the young man. She would not let up. We exited the elevator, she continued. As they walked out the parking lot, she continued. And, it was some of the worst needling I have heard one human being inflict upon another. And, very cruel words. Finally, the young man spun around and bashed her in the face.

Who would have thought there were so many heroes hanging around the court house. I was behind them, and while stepping in, I was almost injured by others that rushed to help.

The girl looked absolutely triumphant as her ex was lead away in cuffs. However, I don't think it will turn out the way she was hoping, I gave a statement about what I knew, another from the hallway heard much of the same, and a courthouse guard heard her words as well as they exited the building.

From the basic interview questions, I have a feeling that even if he is charged and convicted, she will be seen as contributory, and then their divorce proceedings may reflect poorly on her actions.

Site Admin Joined: Apr 03, 2007 Posts: 580

So, you convicted someone for an actual crime?

Newbie Joined: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 46

Technically, it wasn't a criminal case. So there was no "conviction" no "guilty" or "innocent". While the Judge didn't say it, I believe the reason we cannot talk about it is because of the new health privacy laws.

The decisions were based on (in order):

The best interest of the "defendent"
The best interest of their family
The best interest of the citizens where this person would end up if we had decided otherwise

While the case was emotionally tough, the case was very black and white, with the exception of one question.

Newbie Joined: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 46

Shaun, I promised to post a side note about my jury duty from 2 weeks ago:

During our "orientation" the entire pool of some 200 were told..."You are not consider whether the law is right or wrong."

This was a direct insult to the very true, viable, and lawful use of "Jury Nullification".

Now, in the case we heard, the State made their case. because it deals with HIPPA laws, its hard to discuss, but suffice to say, the person in question had long ago burned away most of his brain cells with illegal substances to the point where he was an extreme danger to himself and others, as proven by a smashed in face of an elderly person who never saw a punch coming.

Newbie Joined: Jun 12, 2007 Posts: 2

Here is my though on jury duty, if its going to gain the state, then I hang the jury.. don't care what the issue is

If its two parties then thats a different case but if its the state vs the defendant.. there isn't a case where the state can be deprived of something that didn't belong to the in the first place.

Under common law there has to be a party that suffered loss.. the state can't suffer a loss.

E-ville