MAMEWorld Forums - The Loony Bin - Re: Well, I had an exciting last couple weeks.

I've been on two trials so far. Lately, I seem to end up on a jury every time I go. I used to dread it, but now I actually kind of enjoy it. It's a few days or a week where your only responsibility is to sit and observe, all of the problems you hear about are ultimately someone else's.

I've been on a rape trial and a medical malpractice trial, but nothing as major or as interesting as yours. It's too bad you didn't get to see it all the way through. It seems weird that he could still plead guilty after he'd already been found guilty. I guess the prosecutor was worried you guys would go easy on him?

> All in all, I gotta say it restored my faith in juries. I always pictured a bunch of
> unemployed shlubs in a hurry to deal out a verdict so they could get home to see the
> next installment of American Idol. Instead, everyone in that room took their duty
> seriously, and tried their best to understand the evidence, piece together in their
> mind the charge, and render justice they could sleep with.

This has been my experience as well, which I why I always jump in to defend the jury system against Internet blowhards who have obviously never served. I think the jury selection process usually weeds out the majority of the bozos, so the people who are left are generally intelligent and serious. In both cases, I was 100% satisfied that we reached the correct verdict.