C-Mag wrote: ↑Fri Jun 08, 2018 10:35 am
Fife wrote: ↑Fri Jun 08, 2018 9:56 am
If you ever need to get out of jury duty, I'll write a letter for you.
I've never actually sat on a jury, I've been called, and made the first couple cuts, but I guess lawyers don't like me.
I actually would love to sit through a case just to learn more about the legal system.
I enjoyed the experience, but most of the others were just dying to get out of there, and back to their Very Important Lives. One thing to take note of, is that there's a little election at the beginning for Jury Foreman. I recommend taking it. Most of them were at an elementary-school level, and it took ages to get them to think logically.
There was a little session for jury selection that was interesting. The lawyers took turns asking questions of a field of around 50 people, about their experiences with the law, and car accidents etc. I related the story of how I got smashed at 18, and spent 6 weeks in the hospital. Stated the facts, no emotion, as I do. I could hear the prosecution discussing me. The guy wanted to eliminate me, but the girl said "Nah, I think he's just solid." That felt good.
I heard a case where a middle-aged couple were suing a 20-something for peeling out of a gas station and T-boning them. The defendant had 2 insurance company lawyers, very slick, straight out of the movies. The prosecution had an 80 year old man that literally fell asleep twice during the proceedings. He stumbled over his words, and presented some truly shit photos of the damage to the car. He seemed to assume that he didn't need to even try.
The judge made it clear that fault was already established, and we were only there to determine damages - up to 120k. We were instructed not to assume where the money was coming from, or consider the insurance company as part of it.
The couple had doctors and friends testify that she had serious back issues as a result of it, the guy claimed "loss of affection" because she couldn't fuck or ride his bike anymore. The defendant lawyers made swiss cheese out of the prosecution. They even did the old 'say something outrageous, and then retract it' thing. I couldn't believe it worked, but several jury members bought it.
The jury members were a collection of StAs and Okees- instantly blamed the victims, and doubted every bit of their story. Then defended the kid, as though we were going to do personal damage to him (they thought the money would come out of his pocket). One was an ice cream truck driver, another was a vet, a hardcore conservative 20-something pregnant girl, a couple of retirees, and myself.
We had to find at least 8 people to agree that I) Damages should be awarded, and then II) How much. It took 2 days. We got free pizza and sodas, and all gave each other a headache.
It taught me never EVER to trust my wellbeing to 12 random idiots, no matter what it takes. And NEVER go into a court case without a decent lawyer.
In the end, we awarded 60k, just to get out of there. It was embarrasing, and I felt bad for the couple. But I learned a lot from the experience.
