Jury duty: the semi-live blog
posted at 9:50 am on December 8, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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I’m half-tempted to Twitter this, but I think I’ll just keep this as an open post which I’ll update as things happen … or don’t. I got here at a little after 8 am CT to find that the county was running a little late to get the jury room opened. We sat in an area that was something less than comfortable, but now that they’ve opened for business, we’re in a relatively plush area with comfortable chairs, power, and high-speed Wi-Fi. What more can a blogger want?
8:33 am CT: Well, avoiding a quarantine would be nice. As soon as we got seated, the clerk had to tell one man across from me that his wife called — and his doctor said he’s positive for strep throat. He gets to go home, and the rest of us get to wonder whether we’ll catch anything from him.
8:40: Looks like a relatively small pool today. Even though the county has seven groups reporting today, I don’t think we have more than two dozen people in the room at the moment. The last time I served, I was in Orange County, CA, and we had more than 100 people in the bullpen. I’d guess that all of us will get voir dired today, if anything is going on.
9:30 – We got the cheery video orientation video, followed by a lengthy explanation of jury service in this particular county. It looks like we’re headed to a felony trial in a few minutes; they had this trial in mind for our group this morning. I’d suspect I have an even chance of getting picked, based on the small number of people in our group. Should be interesting.
9:46 – Just realized that my e-mail isn’t working here. Hmmm. I’ll have to use web mail instead.
11:03 – Well, we got onto a panel, and now we’re going home. Voir dire starts tomorrow. Other than that, nothing to report. And probably nothing more for the duration, as we have to start getting tight lipped.
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LOL. That’s the same guy who used to say his dog ate his HW. And the clerk fell for it? Dumb.
JiangxiDad on December 8, 2008 at 9:53 AM
I was able to defer the summons I received in October until February. It’s the first time I’ve ever deferred ~ it’s usually easier to just serve at the time that you are called.
I noticed that about ten of us at work (a Long Island Middle School) have been called in the last few weeks. I’ve never seen so many teachers out for jury duty at once.
I can tell you that my accommodations won’t be as comfortable as yours are, Ed. It’s more like an auditorium with thinly padded chairs.
At least this time I’ll have my blackberry and I can still keep up with Hot Air!!!!
Hang in there, Ed!
IrishGirl17 on December 8, 2008 at 9:58 AM
To me, everyone’s guilty until proven innocent for making me spend a day at the courthouse, listen to jury instruction in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and get only $6 reimbursement when parking costs $8.
madmonkphotog on December 8, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Swanky. I’m currently serving on a grand jury. We get free coffee and not-all-that comfortable chairs.
Slublog on December 8, 2008 at 10:04 AM
We were told we could bring our laptops and anything else we needed, but once in the jury waiting room there were signs everywhere saying there was no WiFi. Luckily, I had brought a book instead.
I couldn’t believe the things people would say to get out of jury duty.
The upsided: fantastic hotdogs in the courtyard, and they made it easy to donate our jury fees to CASA.
MayBee on December 8, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Strangest jury case I ever was on a jury for was for a young guy charged with boating while intoxicated. They witheld some evidence from us during the trial, but we still found the guy guilty as charged.
As we were clearing out the Judge told us what we hadn’t previously been told-the suspect would probably never had been “pulled over” by the aqua cops if he hadn’t decided to drop trou and moon everyone in an extremely busy boat channel.
Anchors away!
Del Dolemonte on December 8, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Hey, I was recently on jury duty on Long Island too– an MS13 murder trial (did you know we have that problem here?)
Very lousy accommodations for jurors, not even enough chairs. But the most amazing part of the experience was in the juror room at lunchtime. There must be about 10 different juries co-mingled at lunch for the criminal cases. Invariably, the conversation would turn every day to leaving Long Island and moving to N. Carolina. I’d say 90% of the people there were in some stage of that process. The reason, high taxes, cost of living. I read yesterday that we have the distinction of having the highest gasoline prices in the continental US. So let’s give a great big Bronx cheer for Long Island.
JiangxiDad on December 8, 2008 at 10:16 AM
The jury room in our courthouse is very large and comfortable, with two TV rooms and a cafeteria. The last time I was there there was no wi-fi or power. I hope they’ve since fixed that. That’s the best way to ward off boredom.
Last time I served was a mess. I got called up in the first group, and instead of going upstairs to the nice, remodeled courtrooms, we were marched two blocks–in the rain–over to the nasty jail, where the crappy little traffic court is. No TV, no food, no cushy chairs. And the trial was a real snoozer.
This why I always take a huge bag with me. People laugh, but you never know what will happen when control over your life is completely surrendered to the bailiff. I was the only one in my group with an umbrella, a book, and a snack, and they sure came in handy. Also, I always take a shawl or jacket. Courtrooms are freezing.
Mu favorite trial I’ve served on? We put a serial rapist away for life. Very satisfying.
juliesa on December 8, 2008 at 10:18 AM
I rather slit my wrists than serve on a jury.
Blake on December 8, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Just EXACTLY what I was thinking.
Oink on December 8, 2008 at 10:22 AM
In Palm Beach, Florida you didn’t spend time in the waiting room very often. You dialed in that morning and unless your number was pulled you could go to work.
Best deterrent to being called I’ve ever found? “I am an engineer, so I understand what reasonable doubt is.”
nerdbert on December 8, 2008 at 10:22 AM
IrishGirl17 on December 8, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Homer Simpson said the best way to avoid jury duty is to say you are prejudiced against all races.
tarheelcon on December 8, 2008 at 10:29 AM
My last time on jury duty I went to the jury selection phase of a civil suit. One of the parties to the suit was a software company and I was summarily dismissed, apparently because I work for a software company.
Bummer…not.
flipflop on December 8, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Homer’s solution doesn’t always work. The lawyers are getting more savvy. I met a woman who had been sequestered for a long murder trial. She had tried to get kicked out by saying she didn’t like Mexicans, but it didn’t work.
juliesa on December 8, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Working the system.
Asian women suddenly couldn’t speak English, the judge asked her several questions after being seated…she could hardly understand or answer. She was dressed to the nines, he asked her what occupation, she said realtor….Judge made her an alternate and ordered the attorneys (suggested strongly) they accept her as an alternate.
Funny, on the phone when speaking to the office she had perfect English…must be a new phone.
I don’t thing the “strep throat” trick would have worked.
right2bright on December 8, 2008 at 10:36 AM
I usually show up for duty wearing something quite patriotic, like a “clinging to my god and guns” t-shirt, or my “Border Patrol – to protect and serve time” t-shirt. If I could open carry into the courthouse I would.
I’ve only been selected once.
cannonball on December 8, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I have served twice on a grand jury. Since a “no bill” means the accused walks free without even a trial, I asked a local attorney why no one ever showed up to represent the defense. He said because the prosecution can get an indictment on a ham sandwich, meaning the grand jury process is just a rubber stamp for the prosecution.
txsurveyor on December 8, 2008 at 10:39 AM
no offense Ed, but presuming they have observed the jury room at some point and see you tap-tap-tapping away, how could they POSSIBLY pick you?!
:-)
Buckaroo on December 8, 2008 at 10:42 AM
I innocently asked, when quizzed by the attorney, whether I saw anything unusual about the accused. Bald head, tats…but
I just pointed out that he had different numbers on his boating shoes (Sperry’s, khakis, white shirt, blazer)…I was excused.
Turned out (and I didn’t know) that the arrested are issued shoes with numbers on them, that more then likely they came in a mess and were dressed by the county. The clothes had numbers on them. They should have been the same number, but weren’t. Drew attention, I guess, to the wrong thing, or too much detail.
right2bright on December 8, 2008 at 10:42 AM
I’ve been called for jury duty three times but was never chosen to serve. The first time, I simply wasn’t chosen. It was an unusually large group (like 200 or so for just one jury), so the odds were good that I wouldn’t be chosen. The second time, I was enormously pregnant. The judge called my name, took one look at me as I waddled down the aisle toward the bench, and said “Go home.” I think he was worried I’d give birth in the jury box or ask to pee three times an hour or something. The third time, I was the primary caregiver for the small child who resulted from said pregnancy, and the judge again sent me home. I’m assuming that next time I’m called, I’ll probably end up serving.
aero on December 8, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Ed, hope everything goes well depending on what you are there for.
I will NEVER be selected for Jury duty if it involves a Rape or Sexual molestation.
upinak on December 8, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I have found that if you arrive for jury duty with a blood-spattered shirt, they usually dismiss you on the spot.
They have no idea it’s paint, or they didn’t realize it wasn’t blood; whatever, it works.
Bishop on December 8, 2008 at 10:48 AM
I served jury duty once about twenty years ago, in Fairfax County, Virginia. It was a nice lounge where we waited, the staff was very courteous, and it’s mostly professional (or at least literate) people in the jury pool. The case we sat in on was an interesting one, which ended in a hung jury. The reimbursement more than covered expenses. And as a Federal employee, I still got paid, and didn’t lose any annual leave.
I suppose I’m due to get picked again in the next year or so. While I’d recommend the experience to others — if only once — you never know what part of your life some judge is going to interfere with irreparably.
manwithblackhat on December 8, 2008 at 10:48 AM
I like jury duty. Since I’m salaried, I get paid time off for it and get to see some interesting stuff that goes on in my community. I’ve been called four times and served twice. One of the times I didn’t serve was a capital murder. I’m sure that in the 20-page questionnaire it came through loud and clear that I support the death penalty. Where I live, we have a one day/one trial rule. If you’re not picked by the end of the day, you don’t have to come back and you’re marked in the county records as having served.
Kafir on December 8, 2008 at 10:50 AM
The prof for a law course I took in grad school said she was called for jury duty twice while she was in law school.
The first time, she wore formal business attire, and showed knowledge of the process. She was dropped from the jury pool.
The second time, she wore blue jeans, left her glasses at home, and deliberately walked in the wrong direction when told to go to the jury room. She was picked for the jury.
Right_of_Attila on December 8, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Everytime I’m called for Jury Duty, they never want to actually have me on the jury. I am too honest in my answering of the questions.
Example Question I usually fail. “Can you follow the Judges instructions?”
ME: “I don’t know, what are the instructions going to be?”
Jackass Lawyer. “It’s a standard question.”
ME: “I don’t know, what if he tells me to do something I think is wrong, like find a guy guilty who was justified in doing whatever he did?”
Lawyer: “What?”
Me: “For example, what if the defendant punched someone in the mouth who desperately needed to be punched.”
Judge: “Your excused.”
Truth is, I’m not lying. I honestly don’t know if I can follow the instructions until I hear what they are. Also, I figure a whole bunch of people could use a good punch in the mouth, and I also know that several people feel the same way about me. Perhaps we’re all right.
Snake307 on December 8, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Ed, that girl in High School, she really didn’t need to wash her hair that night.
- The Cat
P.S.
QFA (Quoted for Awesomeness)
MirCat on December 8, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Best Jury Duty experience of my life –
Sequestered for voir dire. Case was a felony drunk driving case. Course the defense was attempting to find jurors with a loose interpretation of the law. When it got around to me –
[lawyer] Do you feel that there can be circumstances where the letter of law may not be appropriate based on the facts?
[me] Possibly. (me pulling my keys out of my pocket.) But when I have these in one hand and a beer in the other, I have already signaled the possibility to break the law.
[lawyer] (Dumb look on face) Thank you.
Another prospective juror when queried answered “I concur with the guys answer down there.”
Neither of us were picked.
Dr. Dog on December 8, 2008 at 11:17 AM
damn.
JiangxiDad on December 8, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Oh, I guess Ed is for civic duty, upholding the rule of law, and an orderly judicial system, albeit a selective upholding of the laws of the land…
Gohawgs on December 8, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Everyone has different learning styles :)
JiangxiDad on December 8, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I’m scheduled for jury duty next week, after deferring it from the last week of October. I will be taking my trusty new Dell Mini 9 with me, along with materials for a programming course I’ll be teaching next summer and a book or two. Will have to remember to take that snack, as an earlier poster mentioned…
Last time I had jury duty, once we were present and accounted for, we were sent to the branch library to cool our heels until we were called. I’ve only gotten called into the pool once, and wasn’t questioned. Mostly it’s an exercise in sitting around and waiting.
I’m hoping that court will be canceled next week (who wants to have court the week before Christmas?). It worked back in 2001…
LibbyLA on December 8, 2008 at 11:25 AM
What facts could have changed drunk driving laws? He had to drive a pregnant woman having a heart attack and about to give birth to the hospital and only he could drive her in the worst snowstorm in history because he had been drinking and his nose glowed red?
- The Cat
MirCat on December 8, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Ya know, if I had the number, I’d call in and tell them that rash you have that won’t go away is highly contagious. I mean really, what are friends for if they can’t help you out…maybe something like Herpes Simplex 10. Don’t worry, I’ll come up with something. Where are you at again?
Consabo on December 8, 2008 at 11:40 AM
What happens when they find out you support the death penalty for all felons? ;-)
Looks like you’ll be getting out early. You can thank me later.
Abby Adams on December 8, 2008 at 11:40 AM
My son was using my car for college classes so I postponed serving until the day before Christmas Eve while he was on break. They didn’t even call one group. We were dismissed early. So a day or two before Christmas is probably the best time to go if you don’t want to be picked.
Rose on December 8, 2008 at 11:42 AM
I’ve never received a summons for Jury Duty, My 20yr old son has. Maybe they are intentionally keeping me away. Everyone knows that I have only two opinions about criminals; they should either be fried or chemically removed from society. By the way it is well known fact that you can look at someone and know if they are innocent or guilty. Like one female juror said after the first Menendez brothers trial, “I know they said they fired all of their bullets then went outside and reloaded and went back in and did it again, But they are just too cute to do something like that”. See that is actual proof that justice is blind.
Guest1.1 on December 8, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Hi Captain Ed–I don’t think you will get picked for the jury panel. A good friend of my Dad was a Nevada State Supreme Court judge before he returned to private legal practice. He explained to us how most lawyers pick jury members.
***
No technical, scientific, professional, medical, police, military, or legal background jurors wanted. They tend to think critically, and one or both sides want to get someone to believe a “fact” that doesn’t make sense or want them to ignore a fact that does make sense. A jury of truck drivers, teachers, housewives, etc. is better for them. Appeals to emotion (aka John Edwards “channeling” dead fetus’s feelings to a jury) work well.
***
Persons with conservative or strong Christian views are usually not welcome in trials since they have personal responsibility views that may go against “poor childhood”, “diminished capacity”, or “deprived background” defenses.
***
A jury in California found the very handsome actor Erroll Flynn guilty of fathering a child with a young (15?) girl long ago. She showed up in court in bobby sox and a demure school uniform. The jury never saw the very sexy pictures her family and agent sent studios to try to get her into the movies–she looked like an adult woman.
***
A doctor testified that Flynn could not have been the father due to blood type / RH factor differences in the baby–long before the much more reliable DNA testing available now. A reporter asked a juror how they could ignore this evidence and find him guilty–the answer was “WE FELT SORRY FOR THE GIRL”–and he was rich.
***
Kalifornia had a lot of jury malfeasance long before the O.J. case. Good luck.
***
John Bibb
rocketman on December 8, 2008 at 11:56 AM
I will never get picked for a jury – to my everlasting regret. I would love to serve. I have picked juries, however. The best excuse for cause I ever heard was that the guy was a Jehovah’s Witness. Apparently, they are not allowed to judge others.
HawaiiLwyr on December 8, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Six years ago, I served on a medicare fraud/money laundering case in Ft. Lauderdale. We heard testimony for four days before the prosecution cut a deal.
Based on the evidence I saw, I would have voted guilty. The guy paid elderly folks, most of whom didn’t speak English (and therefore were even less likely to understand what was going on), $100 each to come in for check-ups. He didn’t do anything but bill Medicare for the most expensive neurological exam possible ($11k a pop) and a battery of bloodwork for each of them. The bloodwork was done by a lab that gave him kickbacks. Oh, and the kickbacks were laundered by making the checks out to the mother of the doctor’s child and to some dumb assistant who would cash them at his bank and give the doctor the cash. He was caught when BCBS ran a check on one of his patients (whose other doctor was under investigation) and saw that this doctor’s bills to Medicare had gone from ~$10k to ~$3M in one year.
We didn’t discuss the case during the trial, but after we were dismissed I overheard a couple of the other jurors talking about how they didn’t think there was anything wrong.. he was just taking care of his kid. The prosecutor must have guessed by their reactions to the evidence that he should settle for a plea.
vermillionsky on December 8, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I agree with the statement that engineers, professionals, et. al. don’t get selected. However, I disagree with the reasoning. It is not that we are trying to sneak something past the jury – it is because during deliberations, a less educated juror may suspend his/her own opinions or perception of the facts in favor of someone who they perceive is “smarter”. If this happens you may end up with a jury of one instead of a jury of twelve.
HawaiiLwyr on December 8, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Was called in for jury duty for the Microsoft trial in MN. It never went to trial, so I just sat there for 8 hours. Right next to me was a very obnoxious girl who appeared to have an issue with the idea of bathing. She kept going on and on about how she hoped to be part of the jury so that she could stick it to MS because they were a big bad company.
strictnein on December 8, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Jury Duty with Polly Shore was like Citizen Kane 2
Drunk Report on December 8, 2008 at 12:21 PM
The only time I ever had jury duty I sat in the jury room all day and then was sent home. Never got close to a court room. Maybe it was my breath.
NotCoach on December 8, 2008 at 12:24 PM
My last voir dire was for a guy that was pulled over and charged with DUI, but the office and DA said that he had no outward signs of intoxication – WTF? I pointed out until he appeared more IMPAIRED than the Idiots that try to kill me every morning while texting or talking on the phone in their cars, I was going to have a difficult time convicting of anyone that was doing just fine!
rgranger on December 8, 2008 at 12:49 PM
“HawaiiLwyr on December 8, 2008 at 11:59 AM”
and you fell for that one?!
:-)
:-)
Buckaroo on December 8, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Last time I did Jury Duty. Was when a Woman hired her daughters boyfriend to kill her husband Phillip Bogdanoff. They killed him at the nude beach. The woman claimed that her and her hubby were laying out. They came up and asked him if they had any marijuana. Then he shot him. Her daughter was a pretty good girl. I feel that if my mother told me the lies that she told her. I would want revenge. Not murder though. The mother used her daughter and lied like crazy. Her hubby was proved to have been a decent man. She just didn’t like being tied down. Was craziest trial ever. We of course found the mother guilty! She is on Death Row. Her daughters boyfriend is on death row. Her daughter served quite a few years in prison. But will get to live a life out of prison. She has done remarkable in rehabilitation. I just hope she has learned of her tragic actions. Jury Duty sucks. Especially here in The Central Coast. Costs more to park then what they pay.
sheebe on December 8, 2008 at 12:58 PM
“Drunk Report on December 8, 2008 at 12:21 PM”
um, dude’s name is PAULY …
Buckaroo on December 8, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Here, that would get you contempt of court. The instructions in LA are quite specific about not wearing any logo or statement clothing.
But they can’t make you remove tattoos, so if you don’t have any, buy a nice wet-n-peel one, and make your neck a glorious color statement above your nice button-down shirt.
That said, I consider it my civic duty to serve; the only time I’ve ever rescheduled was in mid September of 2001. I’ve never ceased to be amazed at the reasoning of my fellow panelists (as I’m sure they’ve never ceased to be amazed at mine). I guess engineers think differently than nearly every other class of person, including lawyers (who practice something they loosely call “logic”, coupled with something else even more loosely called “justice”). One day I may actually raise my hand in the nominating process for foreperson…
unclesmrgol on December 8, 2008 at 1:05 PM
That’s correct. I got called for jury duty twice when I lived in the Chicago area. At the time I was working for a large law firm. One of the first questions I was asked was “how many attorneys do you know.” I answered, “300.” See ya later.
Mr. D on December 8, 2008 at 1:15 PM
LOL! I’ve only been on 2 juries. Now I just tell them I have a relative who’s on the force, and I’m outta there.
44Magnum on December 8, 2008 at 1:21 PM
I’ve been called twice — served once. I really think it is our civic duty to serve on juries when possible.
Y-not on December 8, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Hi HawaiiLwyr–12/08/08 12:17 post
***
Thank you for your legal viewpoint on jury selection. I was actually picked for a criminal trial a few years ago–a confusing case, no real evidence or believable eye witness testimony of anything–but the accused person could have ended up in prison for 10 years or more on weak changes.
***
We turned the guy loose–the jury system seemed to work quite well. The case was in El Paso, Tx.–some Hispanic jurors, some females, some Gringos, a Black person. I thought we did a good job. The judge complimented us for finding the person innocent on both counts after the trial was over. I was the only scientific or technical person on the panel.
***
I went through the jury selection 15 years ago where I served as the unintended “guardian angel” for for the police guarding a man accused of cutting the throat of his employer in a food store. The second morning of jury selection I got on the elevator of the almost deserted court building–the police department had moved out a few months earlier.
***
The very dark basement hallway elevator door opened and I got on–the door closed behind me. There were 3 other people on the elevator–a very old and apparently unarmed male baliff, an armed (9 mm. semi-auto pistol) female guard, and the unhandcuffed accused!
***
The two police types were talking about a planned trip to Hawaii or somewhere–and their backs were to the accused. He was looking at the pistol a foot away in the lady’s holster! I made a fist and was ready to hit him hard in the side of the jaw if he reached for the gun. I was very happy to get out of the elevator alive on the 5 th. floor of the old court building. What carelessness!
***
I was not selected for the jury–and would have described this incident if I had been selected for the jury panel. The accused was found guilty of the murder.
***
We have the best jury system in the world–I saw the Mexican judicial system work badly 10 years ago when a family friend in Mexico had his foot run over by a drug trafficker at the checkpoint 20 km. South of Juarez, Mexico.
***
The Mexican Customs Agent friend arrested the drug runner and he was taken to jail–others verified his report. He stayed on duty until the end of his shift at the checkpoint and went for medical treatment after the shift was over. The drug runner was found dead in his cell in Juarez the next morning–our friend was arrested and jailed for a year and a half without any of the protections we have in our country. He was finally let out after family members paid a lot of money in “legal fees”–aka bribes. There was never any real legal trial or hearings for him.
***
John Bibb
rocketman on December 8, 2008 at 2:18 PM
dui case I served on, during Vordire, the prosecutor asked one of the prospective jurors if he had any issues with people that drink and drive. His answer? Nahhh, hell I drank two on the way down here this morning.”
Instant dismissal.
On the crimminal trespass/felonious vandalism case, the guy sitting next to me during Vordire was asked if he could be impartial toward the defendant.
His answer:
(use proper redneck accent when saying the following)
“I figger enybody the cops gotta chase down an cuff up, ya might as well drag on off ta jail, cause he’s GUILTY!”
See ya later dude. Instant bye bye from the Judge.
44Magnum on December 8, 2008 at 2:37 PM
My Wife was in Stillwater for jury duty last week. She has had a very sore throat for three days now, but not strep.
Twice now she was turned down cuz I have nephew that is a copper.
oakpack on December 8, 2008 at 3:02 PM
I’m reminded of the joke about the young man who was called for jury duty and petitioned the judge to be excused. This was in a jurisdiction where you could only be called for jury duty once a year.
After a brief “civic duty” lecture, the judge asked the young man why he wished to be excused.
“Well,” he said, “this trial is scheduled to begin the week of June 17th, correct?”
“That’s right,” said the judge.
“Well, your honor, I’m getting married that week.”
“We can certainly excuse you from jury duty this time around,” said the judge. “You’ll have a lot better judgment a year from now, anyway.”
Owen Glendower on December 8, 2008 at 3:26 PM
I will never get picked for a jury – to my everlasting regret. I would love to serve. I have picked juries, however. The best excuse for cause I ever heard was that the guy was a Jehovah’s Witness. Apparently, they are not allowed to judge others.
HawaiiLwyr on December 8, 2008
They wanted me to be a Jehovah’s Witness, but I told them I didn’t see the accident.
SKYFOX on December 8, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Forgive me for a moment, but Bull$h*t. A friend is a big truther. He explains lots of theories about how the WTC could have been Demolished using explosives. He explains the theories and the principals, and they all sound wonderful, and they all sound logical, and they’re all BS.
How do I know they’re all BS. I was a Combat Engineer in the US Army. I did demolitions at the 82nd Airborne Division. I’ve used about every kind of conventional explosive known. I’ve used radio detonation, electrical, and non electrical systems. I’ve even done demolition of buildings and know, from first hand experience, how to make something standing tall, fall down. I know how to make trees fall left, right, or jump straight up in the air. We folded a bridge in half using explosives. I’ve destroyed concrete, and know the difference in Relative Explosive factors. I always am able to shoot down his theories, because I KNOW what I’m talking about. I explain about metal fatigue, and the fact that you don’t have to melt metal, to make it weaker with heat. I know that explosives weren’t used, because I know what you can, and can’t do with demolitions.
Now, if you put him or these other truther’s up before twelve people, and let them go through all their nonsense about these grand conspiracies, the twelve uninformed and uneducated people, they sound very knowledgeable and the theories they mention sound reasonable. So the twelve good people, who are merely ignorant, buy the nonsense.
If one person of the twelve is like me, educated in the matter, he can and does explain how it’s nonsense.
The purpose of a trial isn’t to see what you can get over on the Jury through some radical suspension of disbelief. It’s to find the truth. As long as you continue to exclude individuals with knowledge of the matter being discussed from the discussions, you will continue to get away with fooling the people, and the purpose of the trial, to find truth, is perverted.
This Mr. Lawyer, is why I hold the Legal Field in such contempt. I have little use for, and little tolerance for Lawyers. The truth doesn’t matter, it’s what they can convince the Jury of.
So you get Twelve morons in the box, people one IQ point from needing help to wipe the drool from their chins. You then baffle them with important sounding BS, and they nod and agree with you. You win your case, your client was well served, and the truth? Well, the truth doesn’t pay well enough apparently. However, the LAW is established, and the truth be damned.
This Sir, is how we ended up with the situation we’re in now. Uneducated, ignorant, foolish people, who think they can pick what sounds best, and declare it the truth.
This is another reason why people like you will never pick me for a Jury. I am a critical thinker, and if you tell me something that I know is a lie, I find the evidence, and share it with others. I’d be tossed from the Jury pool for doing that wouldn’t I? I’d be found in Contempt of Court if I printed out a Wikipedia article and highlighted the information you misrepresented to the Jury wouldn’t I? I bet you’d even demand a mistrial saying the Juror’s had been tainted, and were unable to proceed because they knew the truth about the information your entire case was based upon.
I am in Contempt of Court, because little that happens there is worthy of anything but Contempt.
Snake307 on December 8, 2008 at 9:48 PM
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