So... How'd Your Day Go?

I had jury duty. After getting up a half hour earlier than usual, etc. and taking the park and ride bus into downtown and figuring out where I needed to be, I was number 3 in a pool of 65 for a criminal case. They needed 12 + 1 (alternate) but because of people dithering and claiming they were unable to follow the law because of their consciences (multiple instances that overlapped) the judge believed that 13 jurors could not be empaneled so after several hours of voir dire we were all excused to go home. What a total waste.

The good news is the trial would have taken tomorrow and Wednesday. It won't now.

Actually a really sad commentary on our legal system and being able to have a jury of your peers.

There were two major (several minor) sticking points. The major ones were:

a) Sentencing guidelines - the defendant was indicted and the charge has a min and max penalty. Some folks thought the min was too severe and some thought they could never-ever-ever agree to the max, no matter what the circumstances. Duuude, if you don't like the law, petition your legislators.

b) Constitutional rights - if evidence is shown to have been obtained illegally, it must not be factored into the prosecution's case. This is not a "technicality" or some sort of voodoo, rather, it's the US Constitution. Duuude, if you have a problem with THAT, emigrate.

I believe some of the folks lied about their ability to follow the law. They could have done so but would rather have gone home Bah.

And, for the record, we don't have a "jury of our peers" in the US. That's a British thing. We don't have Peers here. We have juries of citizens (you have to be a citizen to serve -- there are other qualifications--you have to be of age and of sound mind/body, reside in the county for county court, be able to communicate in English, etc. )

I don' know why you're coming at me with the Duuude shit? I made a valid comment given the information you supplied. There are certainly advantages to a jury trial verses a trial by judge. For whatever reason it appears that in this case I was not an option it is never good when your options are limited when you may or may not be facing jail time. You sound tired and spent so will chalk up to that

Not you, the >bleeping< juror-candidates who wasted my day.

Thanks :}

Reading and writing today?

OHHHHHH YEAH!

I met my goals and then some. *Pats self on back*.

And winter is fading! HAH! : D

Brace yourself, Summer is coming.

I received a letter, which at first I thought was junk mail. Turns out it was a letter from an insurance company about a policy my dad had. He died of cancer in early October, and needless to say, no one was surprised or overly broken up about it. (It was my mum and paternal grandparents, who raised us.)

My siblings still carry a lot of resentment toward our father, and who could blame them. He was a seriously flawed individual, but our grandparents more than made up for his shortcomings. They were truly amazing and a huge influence throughout our lives. Because of them, I really don't have a reason to be angry with my dad. In all honesty, I think given his circumstances the best thing he ever did for us was leave alone. He could have made thing difficult, but he didn't. It is a little thing, but it made a difference.

Personally, I felt a little guilty that I wasn't much more than ambivalent about his passing, but I hadn't spoken to him in years at that point. The situation is regrettable and still a little weird.

- D. the T.

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Originally Posted by Darkkin

I received a letter, which at first I thought was junk mail. Turns out it was a letter from an insurance company about a policy my dad had. He died of cancer in early October, and needless to say, no one was surprised or overly broken up about it. (It was my mum and paternal grandparents, who raised us.)

My siblings still carry a lot of resentment toward our father, and who could blame them. He was a seriously flawed individual, but our grandparents more than made up for his shortcomings. They were truly amazing and a huge influence throughout our lives. Because of them, I really don't have a reason to be angry with my dad. In all honesty, I think given his circumstances the best thing he ever did for us was leave alone. He could have made thing difficult, but he didn't. It is a little thing, but it made a difference.

Personally, I felt a little guilty that I wasn't much more than ambivalent about his passing, but I hadn't spoken to him in years at that point. The situation is regrettable and still a little weird.

- D. the T.

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How interesting that it was his parents who stepped up to help raise you.