Sixteen counts

Last week I had jury duty.

I got to the court house at 8 AM (read: 5:45 wake up call) on Friday and left at 4:45 PM with a seat in the jury box. At first I was heated. This would mean I'd miss up to two weeks of school/work.

I went back to the court house on Monday morning intent on helping the judge to see my point of view, but alas 'twas not the case; on the trial I had to remain.

Despite my frustration, I have to admit that as the lawyers gave their opening statements, I was immediately captivated by the Law & Order episode playing out in front of me.

The defendant was facing sixteen counts of drug trafficking and various gun charges. As the lawyers went through the witnesses and evidence, I found myself predicting when objections would be called and trying to piece together the pieces that made up this trial.

When it was all said and done, the jury was left to deliberate the case after three days of testimony. After discussing the case, looking at the evidence (over 1.5 kg of cocaine, two machine guns, ammunition, several pistols... dude was locked and loaded) and going through our notes, the group quickly found the defendant guilty of all charges. When it came time to read the verdict we left the room confident that we reached the right decision; there was no doubt, reasonable or otherwise, that the defendant committed the crimes in question.

As the foreman read each verdict, a list of sixteen 'guilty's, tears came to my eyes. I couldn't bring myself to look at anyone in the room, instead choosing to focus my attention on the books behind the judge's seat.

I, along with my peers, sent a man to jail for fifteen years.

Now, as I mentioned before, there was no doubt that the defendant was guilty of all charges against him. Between expert testimony from the detectives both involved in the investigation and not, to chemists and ballistic experts who confirmed the evidence to be what they clearly were, the defense had nothing to go on. The prosecution really did not have to work too hard as seen with the short trial.

But, all this aside, I sent a man to jail for fifteen years.

Yes he was guilty, and yes the judge made the sentencing decision, but I could not help but cry for the man who would miss over a decade of his life.

Think of all the changes that have occurred between 1995 and 2010. Imagine going away fifteen years away and just returning. Hypothetically speaking, a child that was born the day you left would be in high school right now...

Everyone makes decisions, some better than others, but no matter the end result, there is a starting point that got them there. Yes there are things that are inexcusable, but everyone has their reasons and for them, when it came time to make their decision, it most likely seemed to be the right, or only, one.

So yeah. I had jury duty last week, and while it was interesting to sit there and see the justice system at work, it was horrible to sit there and decide someone's fate.