Things I Learned While on Jury Duty

Background: Last week I served on a jury for a criminal case. We had to decide whether it was assaullt with intent to do great bodily injury or just a "simple" assault. We also had to determine whether it was in association with a gang. The third question was whether it was a hate crime.

The Selection Process

-The best way to get out of jury duty without saying a complete lie, which is what most people do... is to act really excited about being on a jury. Tell them you can't wait to serve. You'll be booted in no time.

The trial itself

-Take lots of notes

-I hope I never need a public defender, period.

-If you're going on the stand to defend yourself, practice ahead of time.

-At least try to come up with a reasonable alibi.

-The jury can tell when you're spewing BS.

Deciding as a jury

-If I'm ever on trial, I wouldn't want a true "jury of my peers" (i.e. a bunch of engineers), I would rather have as diverse a group as possible.

-Trying to get 12 people to unanimously agree on anything is a tough task.

-Diversity brings fairness to the decision process. It's amazing how among 12 people you can have so many takes on things, all of which probably muddles the water as to what happened, but you always hear something you didn't think of or know. 12 minds looking for a reasonable doubt is a good way to ensure that one does or does not exist.

-You'll never truly know what exactly happened when the crime occurred.

Gangs

-People are more afraid of gangs than they are of perjury (including the gang members themselves)

-If your kid ever gets arrested for tagging, It's time to sell your house and move somewhere far away before they get sucked in deeper.

-If you're a gang member, don't tag. It's like signing a document saying you're a gang member. Your signing yourself up to be in the PD's database.

-If you're a gang member, dont' tell the cops. Ever.

-If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, has his name under a list of fellow ducks, commits a crime alongside a flock of ducks. It's a duck!

Misc.

-You don't want to be an alternate juror. It's like having a slice of cake given to you, but not being able to eat it.

-starting your work day at 9:00, taking an hour and a half for lunch, and heading home at 4:00 is a great schedule that I could get used to.

-judges are bad ass

-DA's are bad assses in training

-Being on a jury is an enlightening thing to do and is one way that you can serve your country.

-If you're downtown after dark, don't go south of Imperial.

The verdict

Guilty of assault (the lesser of the two) and it was done in association and for the benefit of the gang (i.e. created fear and intimidation to outsiders). Not guilty of a hate crime.

and.

You should all serve on a jury at least once in your life. The system depends on it.