Saturday, June 20, 2009

Jury duty



I was called to jury duty in March. I got picked to be on a jury. I spent 6 weeks in the halls of the Superior Court of Sacramento. Now, I mean in the halls!!!
Let me explain...

I was picked to be on jury for this trial then we found out that there were 2 defendants and there would be 2 juries. So we had to wait another week before we even started the trial. Then we started the trial and we spent more time in the hall then actually in session. They had more motions, side bars,delays,change of court attendants and changing of jury's because there were aspects of the case that we couldn't hear about the other defendant.

It was 3 weeks before we actually sat in session and heard from witness' and experts. I now understand way our court cases are so backed up!

I have to say that I am glad I got to experience the process. I was never bored even when the computer expert was on the stand explaining how people post on craigslist and how the computer records everything and you really can't delete anything.

The case was for the pimping and pandering of a minor,sex with a minor, and child pornography. Needless to say, I saw pictures of things I never wanted to see. Our defendant was a 29 year old man, the other defendant was a woman. They had 3 charges together then each had separate charges that only pertained to them.
We convicted on 3 of his charges,pimping,pandering and child pornography. We were hung on the sex with a minor, 11 to 1. The 1, was a man who did not like the fact that the only evidence they had on the sex charge was her word. There wasn't any corroborating evidence to it but he just was not willing to put all the evidence from every thing else and come to the conclusion that it happened. So we mistrial ed on that 1 charge. He is going to prison anyway.

Justice was served in this case because they was no question to the guilt of either of the defendants. They lived off of a 15 year girl who turned tricks to put money in their pockets.
Disgusting!
I was proud to do my jury duty intelligently and without prejudice. I weighed all of the evidence and came to the proper conclusion.
I don't have to do it again for 2 years!!! YAY!!!!!!!!

2 comments:

  1. i don't know if i could stay impartial in the case of children... but i think it would be an interesting experience to say the least. hooray for 2 free years!

    ReplyDelete
  2. wow, keri! that is a really neat experience (not the traumatic, gross stuff), but serving on a jury where it would have been really easy to be partial and you weren't. good for you!

    ReplyDelete