We all have received or will receive a summons for jury duty at some point. It may seem inconvenient and time-consuming, but we are responsible for participating as citizens. We often need clarification on how justice is served and whether the system is effective. We must be educated and present to be actively involved and informed about how the legal system operates or the decisions made.
Early Monday morning, I reported for jury duty. The room was filled with people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs. Each of us was assigned a number as potential jurors for different cases were selected.
After years of being called for jury duty, I was finally selected. Out of 100 potential jurors, only 12 were chosen. We entered a room with the judge, the prosecutor, the defense, and the defendant, who happened to be a black woman.
Before discussing the case, I want to address something deeply troubling me. Even though many of us didn't want to be there, the attitude of the people present was quite concerning. There were audible signs of reluctance and people expressing a desire to be excused from the case. Despite this, I couldn't help but notice the unease of the woman on trial, knowing that the decision determining whether she would go to prison or go free was in the hands of those who didn't even want to be there in the first place.
The atmosphere in the room affected my perspective on being selected. I empathized with the woman and accepted that whether I was chosen or not, I would handle it in either case. The jury selection was completed, and I was selected to serve. The jury consisted of three males; one of the three was a white male, and the other remaining was black women.
Please keep the following in mind: The case involved a domestic dispute between a mother and her teenage daughter. The mother was charged with child abuse and reckless endangerment, which included assault.
Both the prosecutor and the defense gave their opening statements about the events of the night of the incident. To summarize, the defense and the prosecutor's statements involved a teenager, her boyfriend, and her refusal to follow her mother's instructions. According to the prosecutor, the mother went too far by physically confronting her daughter and boyfriend, supported by miniature video evidence. The daughter's behavior was also cited as belligerent and disrespectful in the video. The mother was upset because the daughter's boyfriend was using the family's restroom (Taking a shower, with both of them being in the bathroom) against her instructions, which resulted in a verbal and then physical altercation. The daughter ended up with marks following the altercation.
The witnesses, including the police, gave questionable testimonies, making it hard to arrive at a reasonable conclusion. The only person who didn't testify was the mother on trial. Parenting is difficult, and there are no guidelines or manuals on parenting. There needed to be more clarity in this case, and the prosecutor seemed focused on winning, while the defense didn't effectively counter the prosecution's narrative.
After all the evidence was presented, it was up to the jury to decide whether the mother was guilty of first or second-degree charges. Serving on a jury requires a fair assessment, especially when missing pieces to the puzzle exist. It's important not to rush to judgment, as someone's life is at stake. Humility and the right attitude should always guide the decision-making process. The proceedings were suggested to begin with a prayer, asking for guidance and wisdom in reaching a just decision.
While making our decisions, those of us who were parents of teenagers understood the dilemma. Some who were not parents did not grasp the ramifications or how anyone could sympathize with a parent dealing with a troubled child. After six hours, with a lunch break in between, we decided. We recognized that although the mother had overstepped in disciplining her child, her actions did not warrant jail time, which we felt was the state's aim. We believed that counseling was more important than trying to imprison a mother who was doing her best in difficult circumstances. She was renting a room, not an apartment, showing that in this high-rent economy, she was doing what she could to support her family with the aid available. However, we had to charge her with something, so we chose a lesser charge rather than a severe charge.
The court waited for the verdict. Although the majority were not guilty, we found her guilty of a lesser charge of 2nd-degree assault. Regardless, everyone was guilty of participating in the altercation that evening. I prayed hard, hoping that the decision I was part of was right and that I didn't take my duty on the jury lightly. When someone's life is in your hands, it's a huge responsibility that should never be taken for granted. Our decision was fair in our hearts, judging by the defense's satisfaction and the state's disappointment. There were no winners; that family was torn apart after an incident many wished they could take back.
This blog is a reminder that compassion and fairness are not just ideals, but essential components of justice. When we are selected for jury duty, we shouldn't view it as a burden. Our presence in that jury room can make a difference, perhaps even save somebody's life or lead to the right decision when justice is being served. Please don't take jury duty lightly; someone's fate may depend on it.
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