My juror number came up again, so I had to report to the courthouse first thing Wednesday morning. I had such a pleasant experience this time. It is a relief to see that my number should only come up once every 3 weeks or so. It was a good day to report, as my husband was able to shift his work schedule to be able to be home with the kids all day. I packed myself a sandwich for lunch and a book. I've been to the courthouse enough now that I've learned my way around a little. I had no problem finding the correct parking lot this time. I went through security like a pro.
I arrived in the juror room with plenty of time to spare. It was hurry up and wait at that point. We were waiting to see how many folks showed up to the regular panels. We were waiting to see how many alternates showed up liked they were called to do. We were waiting for the court schedule for the day, so we could make sure we did not know anyone who would be a target or a witness. Traffic jams and computer issues yielded a bit of a delay.
When all of the pieces were finally in place, the juror coordinator announced that she needed 4 alternates to join the regular panels. I volunteered this time. I checked the schedule and confirmed that I knew no one on the list. I was escorted into the grand jury room. The jury coordinator introduced the alternates to the regular panel. Everyone was real friendly. This panel of jurors has been working together all month. They knew each other on a friendly basis and they knew the routine. They filled us in real quick and things got started.
Grand jury listens to the DA (District Attorney) announce the case and all the charges they are bringing forward for that case. Then, they bring in the police officer who handled the case, and any pertinent witnesses, so that they can give their statement of what happened. The jurors are allowed to ask questions of the DA, of the officers, and of the witnesses, to make sure we fully understand the data they are using to justify the desired charges.
It is the grand jury's job to determine if there is enough probable cause for the charges. We do not have to decide guilt or innocence. Therefor, we do not hear all of the evidence of each case. Grand jury is an early step in the judicial process, well before a case sees a trial jury.
The morning was filled with case after case, with very little rest in between. After the case is presented and the witness is heard, the grand jury meets in secret. The DA, the witness, and the court reporter all leave the room. They are very strict to mention when conversation is on the record and when it is off the record. The grand jury discusses the information and its relevance to the proposed charges. The foreman reads each charge individually, and we vote on each and every one. Most of the cases were well defined and very clear. The DA and court reporter is called back into the room, and we return the indictment. That DA leaves, and a new DA arrives with the next case.
I enjoyed learning about this judicial process for the most part. I could handle the drug cases just fine. But, the child abuse cases churned my stomach. Thankfully, none of the day's charges were horrifying, or else I might have puked. I grew pale and ill as it was. I cannot handle harm to children. I know for certain, that I could not be a juror in a child abuse trial....there is just no way for me to be unbiased when vomiting. I was real impressed with the officer who was on the child victims unit. It is good to know we've got such heroes protecting children.
I'm sure this is no statistical surprise, but I was rather amazed by how many times drugs and alcohol are involved when crimes are committed. I am also a bit stunned to hear that people will attempt to swallow street drugs before they can be caught with them. That seems hazardous to the digestive system, especially if the drugs are being stored in a plastic bag. Apparently I do not get out enough, because one officer had to stifle a laugh when he saw my jaw drop as I was listening to his witness account! It seems to me that it would be so simple to test the substance swallowed for proof positive of what it is, yet that is not done very often because it requires a warrant. A swab of the mouth requires a warrant......and the rest of us pay good money to get the doctor to swab our throats to prove we are sick!
I understand that these rules and regulations are in place to make certain that innocent people are not wrongly punished. It is just seems that the judicial system is a bit more inefficient than necessary, and some unknowns could easily be answered.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we were being dismissed at lunch time for the rest of the day. The panel I was working with had a late day the day before, so they were given the shorter schedule this time.
So, I reported for jury duty, worked a half-day, and received full credit for my participation. It was a "grand" jury day indeed!
I arrived in the juror room with plenty of time to spare. It was hurry up and wait at that point. We were waiting to see how many folks showed up to the regular panels. We were waiting to see how many alternates showed up liked they were called to do. We were waiting for the court schedule for the day, so we could make sure we did not know anyone who would be a target or a witness. Traffic jams and computer issues yielded a bit of a delay.
When all of the pieces were finally in place, the juror coordinator announced that she needed 4 alternates to join the regular panels. I volunteered this time. I checked the schedule and confirmed that I knew no one on the list. I was escorted into the grand jury room. The jury coordinator introduced the alternates to the regular panel. Everyone was real friendly. This panel of jurors has been working together all month. They knew each other on a friendly basis and they knew the routine. They filled us in real quick and things got started.
Grand jury listens to the DA (District Attorney) announce the case and all the charges they are bringing forward for that case. Then, they bring in the police officer who handled the case, and any pertinent witnesses, so that they can give their statement of what happened. The jurors are allowed to ask questions of the DA, of the officers, and of the witnesses, to make sure we fully understand the data they are using to justify the desired charges.
It is the grand jury's job to determine if there is enough probable cause for the charges. We do not have to decide guilt or innocence. Therefor, we do not hear all of the evidence of each case. Grand jury is an early step in the judicial process, well before a case sees a trial jury.
The morning was filled with case after case, with very little rest in between. After the case is presented and the witness is heard, the grand jury meets in secret. The DA, the witness, and the court reporter all leave the room. They are very strict to mention when conversation is on the record and when it is off the record. The grand jury discusses the information and its relevance to the proposed charges. The foreman reads each charge individually, and we vote on each and every one. Most of the cases were well defined and very clear. The DA and court reporter is called back into the room, and we return the indictment. That DA leaves, and a new DA arrives with the next case.
I enjoyed learning about this judicial process for the most part. I could handle the drug cases just fine. But, the child abuse cases churned my stomach. Thankfully, none of the day's charges were horrifying, or else I might have puked. I grew pale and ill as it was. I cannot handle harm to children. I know for certain, that I could not be a juror in a child abuse trial....there is just no way for me to be unbiased when vomiting. I was real impressed with the officer who was on the child victims unit. It is good to know we've got such heroes protecting children.
I'm sure this is no statistical surprise, but I was rather amazed by how many times drugs and alcohol are involved when crimes are committed. I am also a bit stunned to hear that people will attempt to swallow street drugs before they can be caught with them. That seems hazardous to the digestive system, especially if the drugs are being stored in a plastic bag. Apparently I do not get out enough, because one officer had to stifle a laugh when he saw my jaw drop as I was listening to his witness account! It seems to me that it would be so simple to test the substance swallowed for proof positive of what it is, yet that is not done very often because it requires a warrant. A swab of the mouth requires a warrant......and the rest of us pay good money to get the doctor to swab our throats to prove we are sick!
I understand that these rules and regulations are in place to make certain that innocent people are not wrongly punished. It is just seems that the judicial system is a bit more inefficient than necessary, and some unknowns could easily be answered.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we were being dismissed at lunch time for the rest of the day. The panel I was working with had a late day the day before, so they were given the shorter schedule this time.
So, I reported for jury duty, worked a half-day, and received full credit for my participation. It was a "grand" jury day indeed!
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