Civic Duty

Just got done today serving my civic duty as a juror on a court case.

Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 3rd degree (2 counts). The trial went multiple days so being at court all day has kept me away from the computer.

Now that the verdict came in and the trial is done, I can talk!!

The whole process was actually very cool and a great experience. Out of a pool of 500 potential jurors for 20 different court cases I found myself on one. Odd.

But there is more "oddness" to the story. The forewoman in our jury is a friend to the guy who was my best friend growing up. From about age 7 to 13. We played little league together, his dad was St. Mary Magdalen Dad's Club Softball coach on and on. Through a casual conversation I mentioned living in Lincoln Park, she stated she had a couple good friends named so and so and so and so and one of those so and sos was him. Unbelievable!!!

Very awesome though.

As I said, being a juror was very cool and our deliberation was long and heated and had all the drama of a movie. Good stuff. But when you are dealing with rape and a husband and wife and kids and some very graphic content (2 counts because there are 2 "ways" a husband and wife can have "sex" if you get my drift), it's serious. I'd gladly do it again if asked.

Interesting even more was having the ability to talk to the judge and the prosecuting attorney afterwards and get their opinions on the matter and ask the prosecutor some of her motive and why she did and did not do what she did and did not do.

We did deliberate pretty much all day today and took it right to the last possible minute before they would have asked us to go home and come back tomorrow. But some late talking and a final pouring over the evidence and we finally came to the unamious verdict of (drum roll please) Not Guilty on both accounts.

The judge agreed with our decision (as I said we were able to talk to him afterwards). Which is somewhat comforting because it is tough. Do you lock someone up in prison for something you doubt he did or do you let a rapists back out in the street? The assumption is innocent until proven guilty and the prosecution has the burden of proof. The prosecution didn't do that. Further talking with the prosecution showed some of the same doubts were shared but once something like this is started and the ball gets rolling, you can't stop it.

It may have been the best law and civics lesson I have ever had. The case seemed to be an example of how the jury system works. We were split at the beginning of the deliberation. All took turns talking and counter pointing and yes things got heated but as the evidence played itself out and more and more blocks were built we reached a unaminous decision.

America in its purest form at work and succeeding. I'll raise a pint to that