Mr. Everybody’s Business has concluded that being summoned
as a juror for a criminal trial sure must be an enlightening experience for
many of those called for duty. As a juror, one is exposed to the underbelly of
society at times and jurors get a glimpse into the lives of others like they’ve
never had before.
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| Montgomery County Courthouse |
After jury duty, perhaps many wish they hadn’t had that
glimpse. I always say, “You can’t make this stuff up” and “It’s like nothing on
television.”
There is a legal rule that defendants are entitled to a jury
of their peers. Sometimes, I sit there in court, looking at the wide-eyed
reactions of jurors to a witness’ statement and I think, “Wait a minute, these
jurors don’t travel in the same circles as the defendant or the witnesses; how
could they be peers?”
For example, at a trial last month before Judge Todd
Eisenberg a man accused of sexual assault took the stand in his own defense and
claimed to jurors he liked to play a game called “Follow the Porn,” during
which he and his then girlfriend, the victim, would re-enact what they viewed
in a pornographic video, implying he didn’t commit sexual assault.
I can only imagine what jurors were thinking. Perhaps, “Did
I really just hear that said in public?” or “Too much information!” Incidentally, he was convicted.
During a trial before Judge Gail A. Weilheimer, jurors
received an education on how to make a cocktail that has a very risqué
name.
One female who witnessed
an alleged shooting testified she had been out at local clubs and had been
drinking. Her drink of choice she said was “Red-headed Sluts.” She proudly proceeded to
inform jurors it’s concocted with “Jagermeister,” peach-flavored schnapps and
cranberry juice.
“What is that?” defense lawyer Benjamin Cooper pondered to
jurors during his closing argument. “It didn’t sound too cool to me.”
Ditto, Mr. Cooper. Ditto.
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