Twelve Angry Men

Diane had to go to Jury Duty on Tuesday. Not surprisingly, she was not selected. The defense attorney actually told her that this may not be the jury for you. As if she was actively campaigning to be on a jury and she needed to go find another one that was more suited to her.

Here are some of her experiences...embellished just a little.

They first asked her to come last Thursday, after asking her if she would be able to come on that day. After she said she would, she was told that it was rescheduled for Tuesday. Thanks for asking.

After meeting at Superior Court, she was farmed out to City Court to participate in Voir Dire for a DUI trial. The jury gathered in a room where they were asked a series of questions. After the whole group was asked together, the jurors were called back in to explain the affirmative responses they had to any of the questions.

Here is the exchange:

Would you give more weight to the testimony of a police officer than to the testimony of a known drunken sorority girl?
A: Wouldn't you?

Do you or any of your family or close friends work in Law Enforcement
A: My husband is a cop. He also won the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers award for Outstanding DUI Enforcement. Isn't that great?

Have you or any of your family or close friends ever been victimized by a crime involving alcohol?
A: My cousin was killed by a drunk driver in 1998.

Would you be able to set aside your biases and be objective in this case?
A: Yes, I would be happy to find her guilty regardless of how much I like her personally, feel for her plight driving her to drink and drive or how unfair she thought she was treated by the police.

Would you want someone of your mindset sitting on your jury?
A: Yes, because if I was guilty I would want someone that could help me to face my consequences, deal with my problems and get on with life.

Ok, that is not quite what she said, but I am sure that is what the defense attorney heard. She was not chosen.