I see Marion County has begun a crackdown on people who skip out on jury duty. Apparently just over 40% of those called actually show up. A sad statement considering it is one of few requirements of our freedoms as well as something we should all be willing to take part in. Sure it's a pain the ass, doesn't pay shit and generally wrecks a day or more, but it is still a living breathing part of our freedom.
I admit, I have been guilty of not showing, but it was an honest mistake. I simply forgot to call until the Wednesday night of the week I was supposed to serve. I don't think my pool number was actually called, but I did feel bad about it. For those of you who don't know how it works in Marion County, and I don't know if it's not like this everywhere, you are mailed a summons to appear. Beginning on Sunday evening you have to call the provided number or check on line to see if your group is required to appear. If it is you show up the next morning at the City-County building. If not you call back each evening until Wednesday. If your group is never called you simply do nothing, if it is you report. They county doesn't pay you for parking or meals and if you don't make it on a jury you get a whopping $15 + mileage. If you do make it on a jury you get $40 + mileage per day and once you start the jury you get meals.
Well back in April I was called once again and I actually called and had to show up on a Thursday morning. I got an early start and got downtown about an hour before I needed to be. Fortunately for me it was 'Juror Appreciation Week' and we were treated to coffee, juice and snacks while filling out our paperwork and waiting to be called. I went through the process and spoke to a lady who was scared. She was over 65 so she had an out if she wanted. She was afraid to convict someone and have him or her come back and get her.
Eventually my number was called and we were led to a courtroom and the prosecutor and defending attorney asked us questions to determine our suitability for the jury. I was in the third group and answered honestly, which seemed to be rare with some of my co-would be jurors’. A little while later I was sent to the deliberation room and eventually was joined by 12 others who made up the jury and 1 alternate. We were then sent to lunch, which I felt should have been on them, but wasn't. I did get to go to the King David Hot Dog shop, which was cool, but it still should have been on the county since I was already part of the jury. Oh well!
When we returned from lunch we were given some instructions and then sent into the courtroom. The judge swore us in and gave us his instructions and an overview of the case. We were now ready to go.
Let me just say this, I had heard that turnout for jury duty was low and was shocked, and while I was treated with respect by the court the whole process was boring and irritating and I now know why people don't show.
Our case was the state versus this kid accused of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. What left the biggest impression on me was that this was some kid, 19 years old, facing 20 years in prison. It was all such a waste it seemed. The story goes as such: Four friends conspired to call the local Domino's Pizza, order a pizza to a bogus address and when the pizza came they would rob the pizza guy. What happened was that they damn near beat the delivery guy to death, stole the pizza, some wings and his cell phone. The morons even used the cell phone to make a few calls, which is what eventually got them caught. The scary thing is that they actually tried to call another pizza place and while the defendant’s attorney downplayed it, they were going to try it again!
The state's star witness was a completely unbelievable character that had plea-bargained his way down to a 8 year sentence from 115 years. With his track record he was not to be trusted even though the state said he could be. This punk basically got on the stand and acted polished, a little too much to me, and it turned out to be one's word against the other. In the meantime, emails and threats had been exchanged between the two boys. In true gangster wannabe fashion these morons forgot what "code of silence" meant. So here we were in court listening to these 2 boobs call each other liars and talk about how heinous the other was.
Even the pizza man got on the stand but he didn't provide much as he was japped and didn't see or remember much.
After a couple of breaks we finally got the case about 6:30. Me and another girl were adamant that the defendant was guilty but we were outvoted. The alternate who was not supposed to have a say wouldn’t shut up. She took over the jury and this white trash that was also in there was so anxious to let this thug back onto the streets. All the while I still thought it sad that these two punks were going to throw away their lives for some pizza and a cell phone. The thing is, these kids seemed to come from decent homes and from what I heard from them, knew better. In the deliberation room things turned worse and I just gave up. I thought guilty but it was clear that there was no way these idiots were going to change their mind. You get a real civics lessen in there as in my fellow citizens are stupid!
Ultimately we found the defendant guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery. The alternate kept telling us that he would still get 8 years, but I knew better. He'd be lucky if he saw one day behind bars. We pressed the buzzer to summon the bailiff who thought we were ready for dinner. We told her no, we were ready to deliver the verdict. I had lost all interest in the future of this punk by now and just wanted to get out of there.
At about 8:00 PM we delivered the verdict. The defendant seemed pleased, the state, who presented a weak case looked beaten down and we had more paperwork to fill out. Back in the deliberation room the bailiff told us we were entitled to dinner and that they had already ordered it. We could stay if we wanted, but I wanted nothing but to be away from these assholes. Oh and that dinner? Fucking pizza after hearing about it all afternoon.
I walked back to my car saddened by the case and disillusioned by the system.
As a final note to this, I checked the Indiana Department of Corrections Offender Locator for our defendant; On June 26 he was sentenced to 1 year in the Indiana Department of Corrections and is currently at the New Castle Correctional Facility. He is eligible for release on November 24, 2007. A far fucking cry from the 8 years that uber-dumbass alternate tried to spew.
No comments:
Post a Comment