© alkal82 / 123RF Stock Photo
I am curious about how many of my friends have served on juries and what their experiences were. I am currently serving on a federal jury which—because the federal courthouse is far from close to my house—is making for very long days.
The nice thing about the federal courthouse in NY is that it is right at the edge of Chinatown, so every day on our one hour lunch I get to go try a different restaurant.
Of course I cannot yet say anything about the trial. Those are the rules. But even jury selection itself gave me ideas for new books, and I am anxious to share some of the cool stuff I’ve learned with you all.
Have you served on a jury? Did the trial last approximately the length of time they thought it would, or was it more like dealing with home improvements, where you have to allot 1.5 times as long as they say? Did you learn anything interesting? Was it fun or just deadly dull?
The majority of the ones I am familiar with usually went to the very last hour and then a settlement was reached (or plea bargain if criminal case). Very few actually make it to trial unless the defense/prosecution has such a strong case they think they can’t lose.
This one’s already in the trial phase, so I guess someone thinks they have a strong enough case not to do a plea bargain!
I served on an attempted murder trial and in the beginning, they told us it would last two weeks. It took a week for the entire process, including jury selection, testimony and verdict. I was convinced they wouldn’t choose me because the victim was seen in the ED where I worked and most of the law enforcement people involved were either friends or people I had taught First Responder. Three years ago, I was on a civil case that they said would last 10 days. It lasted one day; the judge had a serious car accident that night and they declared a mistrial.
Yoiks! Jury selection for our case was fascinating in and of itself. And hanging out in the jury room with the other jurors is also interesting. I was thinking that a jury room is the ultimate sort of “strangers on a train” thing–you meet people you’d never get to know otherwise.
During the “interview” phase of jury selection on both cases, I really wanted to stop them and say, “Why are you asking me that? How does that help determine if I’m a good jury member for your client/your prosecution.”
Oh, all our interview questions were quite…pointed. There’s no question what they were getting at. But I think a murder trial might be quite different — maybe they were looking for prejudice for or against the victim or assailant, that kind of thing. I was in selection for a drug trial once and the questions seemed all over the place to me. But I was excused for cause on that one.
I was on a murder trial which was a fascinating process in every way. I can’t remember if they said how long it would take at the start and I think it was a week.
I also served on a dental malpractice trial. It was several days. Boring. Very boring. But even there, the interactions with other jurors was kind of interesting.
Both trials went full length – no plea bargain or settlement.
I’ve never been on a jury – but hoping I get called maybe this summer or something 😀
… Not sure if I want to make it past voir dire.
Foodwise? GO TO JOE SHANGHAI’S!!!
I was selected as an alternate for a lawsuit. If I remember right, the selection process for that took at least two or three days. Then, the next morning we all showed up for the trial to start and sat around for an hour or two before they dismissed us because they reached a settlement. Another time, I was on a jury for an attempted murder case. I don’t remember how long the selection process took on that one, but the trial itself went on for almost a week, and I heard a lot of testimony from the victims, witnesses to the attack, the police, and the family of the defendant. Then, after a particularly damning witness, the defendant took a plea deal, So I’ve never gotten to the deliberation process.
And as for Chinatown, it’s been a long, long time since I’ve been there but I do remember having a fabulous meal at a restaurant called Hop Kee. It’s on Mott Street.
I really hope we don’t have to go to deliberations, but I don’t have high hopes. I figure by the time we’re done, I will be totally an expert on the restaurants within 10 minute walk!