I was blessed last Wednesday to be called back to jury duty for round number 3 in the selection for the 16 week murder trial. I thought my love for the death penalty was going to knock me out of the running. Evidently I was wrong.
Work was less than thrilled. I was told I would be getting a letter from HR requesting I be dismissed due to my job being eliminated and it's a critical time in the company with the off shore project and the transfer of knowledge process currently underway. Blah, blah, blah. Essentially I'm not good enough to keep around permanently but there was a whole bunch of concern about losing me temporarily for trial. All I got today from my sup and the big sup was "I hope you get selected....I hope you don't get selected."
Got to court waited around a bit...well more than a bit...waited a lot. There was a paralegal that made the jury cut that was saying- if there's only 14 people in the room that this is probably the final jury wanted unless there's dismissal... 12 jurors and 2 alternates. And she kept talking about the jury process. A couple of us tried to tell her they have 3 days of screening before the actual selection is made. When we were talking about our juror numbers all of in there were practically in numerical order 1-18 minus a couple of people. (I was number 9)
We eventually got into the court room. Judge asked us a bunch of questions that weren't initially on the questionnaire. There were answers by the appropriate people. The the prosecutor hops up and starts talking on and on about the death penalty and to ensure that there is no doubt that we would be able to issue the death penalty if we find the guy on trial guilty. Honestly I never thought about actually saying guilty/death penalty for a real person. And seeing the guy on trial... he looked so young. He had to be in his early 20's meaning he probably committed the crime when he was just 17/18 making him 22/23. And I had a pit in my stomach. Could I really say 'death penalty' to a someone so young- who made a horrible and stupid mistake. He needs to be punished for committing murder...but the thought of death is something totally different.
Anyways-eventually they asked the questions about hardships with the trial for 16 weeks and raised my juror number explain that due to my job being eliminated and training occurring for the offshore project, my employee is requesting I be excused and gave them the letter. The lawyers and judges chatted and I was dismissed.
I'm happy I don't have to have the weight of someone else's life on my shoulders. I don't think I want that responsibility. If it was someone that fit the prototype of a monster- yes, but in this situation, I don't want anything to do with it.
Peace out.
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