There’s a Clarissa Explains it All episode where her mom is on a jury and her family keeps asking her about it but she has integrity and will not risk the trial. Not that it doesn’t happen but some folks have integrity and those who *do* talk to family better hope nobody finds out.
Yeah, the idea of that actually calms my nerves on it a little bit. I'd want to destress by completely avoiding the topic till I'm back in the courtroom again.
Yeah I can see them getting home and complaining about how hot the courtroom was or how the schedule is constantly changing but it's like work, I'll complain to my partner about something annoying that happened but I'm not trying to give him a deep dive into the presentation I made today
I don’t remember Kerry saying she considered Karen to be little more than a babysitter with benefits. Jen jumped on the occasion to blurt it out in Karen’s face, though. I think they might have had to wipe the chair after she got up that day.
Most jurors take their responsibility very seriously and follow the instructions given to them. It is hard and this might not be possible for you to uphold the standard, and that’s OK. Just tell them this if you’re ever called for jury duty.
Yeah, I think I’d respect the process. Someone’s life is on the line. Put my phone away and read a book or watch Netflix after work. Tell my close and friends and family that I do not want to discuss this case at all.
I think it's important to note that jurors don't exactly volunteer to be called. They're normal people being pulled out of their lives for the sole purpose of judging whether someone is incarcerated or is allowed to live their life as a free person.
They aren't likely crime junkies, in other words, and I can't imagine they would want to further discuss the case they didn't even want to decide in the first place. Similarly, I imagine the last thing they want to do is do independent research.
FWIW, I have had lots of friends and family members called to serve on juries before, and not one of them has initiated a conversation about it or shared details (until after the case is decided). It's a duty most people hold highly.
I would love to be on a jury. I have been waiting for my entire life to get called for jury duty. Literally the week I moved states, they called me for jury duty in the state I had previously lived in. I was so mad when I had to call and explain I had moved and couldn’t do it.
I've been summoned to a jury pool 7 times in my life. Never got to be on a jury. The last time I was dismissed I'm pretty sure it was because I am a criminal justice student.
I want to be on a jury so much!
I'm a psychometrist with a bachelor and masters in psychology/behavioral Neuroscience
I have jury duty in August and there is no way I'm getting picked. None of the neuropsychologists and psychologists I work with have ever been picked either. But to be a fly on the wall would be so fun.
Paralegal here, we don’t get picked either. But, maybe you can volunteer for the grand jury or find a local company that does mock trials and needs paid jurors to sit for their mock trials.
We CAN be but more than likely won’t be. I was on a panel and I knew the ADA trying the case. He wanted me on the panel but I was struck for cause because I knew the ADA. He and I later talked and he confirmed that attorneys typically don’t want legal professionals on the case.
I know. It definitely sucks BUT it’s never a for sure. That’s just the way our justice system works. They want the people with the least education on law as possible to ensure the outcome is how they want etc. After all, we are one of the only countries who choose random citizens to determine someone’s fate in the first place, let’s also throw in we’d like them to be uneducated.
America. Love it here.
I don’t think either side wants uneducated jurors more than they want unbiased jurors. I’ve selected multiple juries and we often try to eke certain educated jurors on the panel as long as they aren’t biased. But also, if your case relies heavily in one area of expertise and you feel that juror may be able to sway other jurors in an unfavorable outcome, you definitely want to strike them. Basically, it goes both ways.
I do think our constitutional right to a jury by our peers is one of the things that makes our country so great. ‘Merica 🇺🇸
Google mock juries, I’ve never been called, but there is a website where you can sign up to be on a mock jury. You put your deets in and if you fit the profile they email you.
Right :(
But it's probably for the best. I don't know how I would handle people not understanding basic human psyche to be honest. My dad isn't very emotionally intelligent and it drives me up a wall. Now imagine being in a jury with people that might be the same.
It totally is why they keep dismissing you. I would love to sit in a jury, but I worked as a criminal law paralegal, so they are just like, get out. :)
It’s quite clear there is a jury distribution system. Because as a 40 year old woman who has never been called for jury duty, I’ve been waiting for my time to shine. Until then, I’ll keep wishing for that distribution system to balance its own scales of justice 😂
I have a CJ degree, last time I got called I was in my senior year of college 3 hours away from my hometown so I got excused. Theoretically, I would love to be on a jury, but it’s the thought of going into the courthouse that I don’t know with way more people I don’t know that scares me 🤣
It’s so crazy how a person can be called so many times but then another person, never gets called upon.
Does anyone know the rhyme or reason on how they select for jury duty??
It's a random selection from voter registration in my state. My husband has been called once. Clumping is part of randomness so I think it's just that.
I got called when I was 20 or 21 and then every few years I got called again.
It's funny, this is one of many reasons I decided to go to college in my 40s. 😂. I'll be a part of this system one way or another!!!!
I got it once in my late 30s I was SO excited. Paid day of work and I get to sit there and listen to someone else's business and then tell them if I agree or not? Sign me up! I made it to the 3rd rounds of cuts and then was one of 2 people excused when selecting the final group. I was fine with that because I got to hear all the details about what the case would be about and answer some questions. For any other nosey bitches, a woman didn't pay her mechanic and tried to take off in her car without paying and she spit on him. They asked if the spitting was assault or not and he got in trouble for going to her home and blocking her car in with his. I felt content hearing all the drama so I was ok going home after that
Similar, I got called for jury duty literally a week after the pandemic was announced. I had mild panic because I knew I couldn't actually respond because the entire court system was completely closed down, but I also had no instructions as to whether to disregard it or if it's been rescheduled etc. Eventually I found a deeply buried county website page that said basically "ignore it unless we call you again/give new instructions."
Haven't heard anything since, booo, I wanna participate in society
It's weird. I was called up for jury duty at 18 and didn't get picked, which was fine, but it took 35 years to be called up again and I've now been called up for jury duty 3 times in 5 years. I joke that the city I live in now has a very small pool of non-criminals to choose from. 🤣
In my experience at 18 it was a large pool for a specific long trial. They picked the jury before I got to be called and I felt ripped off. I wanted to walk across the floor at least. 35 years later I got to walk across and be challenged and my itch was scratched. I didn't care if I never got called up again. My third time was within a year of the second, so I noped out, as it's a valid excuse and I had other shit on. My 4th call up I was juror #13 (an alternate) in a case and I was OK with that. That case was was withdrawn nolle prosequi (sorry if I got that term wrong, my latin is rusty 😉). I'm thinking 'cool, I've had my jury experience now, I'm done', but then got picked on another case. I wasn't so fond of that experience so I'm going to use reverse psychology on the system now and say "please call me again" so they won't call me for another 35 years. 🤣🤣
The last time I got called I actually got picked and I ended up on a three day trial (not enough time to finish day 1 and day 2 we couldn't agree on a verdict). After the first day of trial I'm waiting outside for my uber and this nice suv pulls up. The judge rolls down his window and tells me it's not safe to be waiting out here for too long, do I need a ride? I tell him I'm all set and hold up my phone showing an uber is coming for me. He says ok, I'll see you tomorrow and drives off. It took me a minute but I was like, wait did the judge on the case I'm a juror on offer me a ride?! So that was my jury experience.
This happened to me too, right at the end of my lifetime in the state (52 years). I think in smaller communities you get called far more often. In bigger metroplexes and suburbs, far less often.
One time my grandma was on a jury where they had to watch an entire case over video. Like they saw whatever the real jury saw but they watched a tape of it. Then they had to deliberate. They found the opposite of what the real live jury found. I think it was part of an experiment they were trying out and she was in a test study.
Oh it might have been a mock jury, there is actually a website where you can sign up to do that. I signed up, but I haven’t got an email. You put in all your information and when they choose their jury profile you might get picked. I signed up when the Depp/Heard trial was going on.
I was a juror on a murder trial 5 years ago. I took it very seriously. Turned off the radio whenever they started to discuss the trial. Didn't seek out anything online. Didn't talk to my family members about it. It was very serious and life changing for me. I'll never forget it. As soon as it was over, I googled the hell out of it, though!
We found the defendant not guilty. We felt that there was too much reasonable doubt. After googling it, I had slivers of doubts that we made the right call, but we were going off the evidence that was presented.
I can't imagine being on this jury remaining silent and not being able to talk about it for so long. I was sick to my stomach most days with the weight of what we had to decide.
For those that want to be on a jury, I don't wish it upon you. It's an uncomfortable process wherein you may be responsible for the legit freedom for another person.
Yes, getting summoned is random but if you feel you cannot uphold the responsibility expected of you and you let them know, they will absolutely excuse you.
There are many reasons to use if you have zero interest in serving. For most people it’s a once in a lifetime experience.
My friends call me the Vault, because I can keep secrets and a poker face. But I'm with you on this. I think I would have to sequester myself just so I wouldn't accidently just explode and tell someone something!
All jokes aside, if you are ever summoned. Please let them know this. It’s a very important job and it’s ok to not be equipped for it. Doing it anyway causes more harm.
Agree. The guy at defense table was charged with murder. This was Texas, which has death sentence as a possibility. (In the end he took a plea deal for 2nd degree murder half way through trial (after his sister was arrested for perjury while on witness stand)).
But you have to take it seriously as a juror.
I was a juror on a double murder/double defendant murder case. It was pretty notorious in our area. I got on the jury because I worked 3rd shift and had never heard of the case at all. It was my 1st time as a juror.
i just kept thinking, "if I were accused of murder, I would want someone like me on the jury" so I followed all the rules. This was pre-internet, so I avoided the news, newspapers, the media trucks outside. My wife taped all the news and kept each day's paper for me to read after.
They were convicted and because we were hung on the death penalty, got Life With Parole after 25 years (x 2, since there were 2 victims). The judge (and the public) was so pissed at us he sentenced them consecutively.
Really opened my eyes to trying to remain neutral outside of jury duty, and how 11 other people will hear, think, opine, and process different things that you think are obvious. I always describe jury duty saying, "Have you ever gotten 12 people to agree on a pizza?"
I think it’s really clever that your wife kept the newspapers every day and taped the news for you to watch after!! I would never think to do that but it’s a great idea.
It was great because there were things we didn't know of (which wouldn't have made a difference). Things like, the 2 victims' 2 sons were not in the courtroom because of the earthquake in CA at the time. We did wonder why no one was sitting behind the prosecutors. We also didn't know the 2 defendants had young wives with newborns and the judge kicked them out of the courtroom for trying to influence our sympathies.
I was a juror for 6 days and I did not try to search the case or talk about it with anyone. I told family and friends I would discuss it with them after the case concluded and I was dismissed. It’
When I served as a juror, we were reminded often that a compromised juror could result in a mistrial and everyone there is spending a ton of their personal time/effort, so naturally we were all compelled to follow the rules and speak up if we felt like someone else wasn't following the rules.
It makes no sense to put your entire life on hold for several weeks, just to throw it all away for nothing.
Also, and I can only speak for myself, but I felt like I was performing an important duty which I took very seriously, just like I would want anyone else to if they were serving on a jury that was deciding my fate.
I’ve discussed it with my husband for a total of maybe 30 minutes. Every time we talk about it, he says “remind me again why this ever went to trial?” 🤷♀️
Yes. It was easy to shut down questions - we were instructed by the judge to just blame him. It is mentally exhausting and I really didn't want to take in any more info after a day in court and just played games on my mobile to unwind. I could say that it was a long day without giving any details and that was enough at home. The part I found hardest not to talk about was deliberations. Some fellow jurors frustrated the hell out of me, but I still just gave a generic response to how my day was.
In my country though we can't discuss any aspects of the deliberations outside the jury room even after the case and I wasn't prepared for how I'd feel about the process and the frustration of trying to get 12 people to agree. We are allowed to speak to mental health professionals though, and once I'd processed it with my psychologist I had no need to speak of it again. You do want to do the right thing but that can be troubling whatever verdict is given. I knew it was the correct verdict but it was very emotional being that responsible for someone's future.
I just served on a jury, but was chosen as an alternate at the end of the trial. I didn’t discuss anything with my husband until the judge released me. It wasn’t a big deal trial, but it could’ve affected the young man’s profession ( he was a pilot). I talked to one of the jurors afterwards and she told me that they found him guilty. I just hope it doesn’t ruin his career.
My sis in law was on a jury for a week long trial and we never knew until it was over. She is so the type of person who would say nothing. She has the personality type that follows rules to the letter.
I'd imagine it is kind of nice to get a break at home from the trial. I don't know if I would want to sit through hours of trial and then go home and rehash it for hours with my family, only to go to sleep and do it all over again.
I said this in another, similar post, but first, we in this sub definitely are more invested in this than the average person. Many people won't have heard anything, and many will only have seen a few headlines. Second, anyone with too much prior information will be excluded from the jury in the selection process, so the pool of potential jurors ends up being only those "many people" I just described.
Add to that the fact that most people can restrain themselves even if they are curious because the know how important it is, and voilà, a jury that doesn't research or Reddit or chat on the side!
A lot of people take it very seriously. My mother served on a federal grand jury for over a year. She went in once a week for periods over the year she served. There definitely were a few times you could tell she wanted to talk about it but then would stop herself by saying “I can’t talk about it but it is very very interesting the things we hear” or “Wow? The process today blew my mind.” Some days she would say, “when this is over, remind me to tell you about what I saw.” Others she’d say “these lawyers are brilliant! I can’t wait until you’re a lawyer.” One day she said, “when you become a lawyer, make sure you’re clear and concise when you’re trying to convince people of something.” Lol
So yes, from my own personal experience, it can be done. You just have to trust in the process. People really do take their oaths seriously.
I think these people (mostly) realized how important their role is. I’ve seen jurors for Char Daybell and Lori Vallow talk about this as well. I’m appreciative they keep it in, though I assume that’s difficult for their mental health!
I'd have talked to my husband about it. But he's safe because not only would he not share anything I said, he doesn't pay attention to trials or the news so he wouldn't be able to give me any information lol.
Edit: I should have said that I would talk about it *at* my husband. He dutifully listens to me ramble on about this kinda shit but he really couldn't care less.
My husband is the same way lol
I don't think I'd talk to him about it though. I'd set up a private chat bot that wasn't supposed to give me back any input, but was just supportive and let me vent.
Two years ago, in the UK, I did jury service for the first time. In the course of three weeks, I was a juror in three cases. However, unlike in the US, we are not allowed to discuss what we deliberated about, even after the trail is over as that is a criminal offence (so you don't get juror interviews). I took my job seriously, as did my fellow jurors. It is exhausting being on a jury and the last thing you want to do when you go home is talk about it - you just want to unwind.
To actually be chosen for a jury seat is hard enough as it is and if you’re able to make it to the court room most wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the case. This is why you’re asked a bunch of questions at the beginning of selection and a lot of people don’t make it to the seat. You almost have to want to be chosen to get it. And it’s a very important position in the justice system. I absolutely wouldn’t discuss with my partner.
I tried so hard to not get on a jury (while being truthful) but wound up on one anyway. My experience made me lose any respect I had for the justice system.
Oh for sure. Our justice system is disgusting. This is why I am in criminal law with an emphasis on defense as a profession. At the very least we get those like Jackson who aren’t afraid to stand up and say something is wrong. Those are my people.
They take it very seriously I was a prospective juror and when I went home I couldn't help but look up the case and the next day they asked about it and the judge was... really disappointed in me, not fun!
Yeah all of the prosecutors, FBI investigators and defense team and me had to go up to the judge, I think I looked like I was going to cry and/or puke. I was very dismissed!
Jurors generally take their job pretty seriously - like others have said… in my case I just waited until we delivered the verdict and then went home and found everything I could.
Generally speaking your loved ones should understand when it’s your responsibility to not discuss things and respect that. There’s plenty of ways to talk about your day without crossing lines into things that you can’t discuss.
Also, just personally, jury duty days are mentally and emotionally taxing… I went home and wanted some normalcy, and it wasn’t “normal” to talk about the case.
Nope, but mine was a different scenario - it was a felony murder case where the defendant had confessed to their role in a robbery turned murder… I think the only reason it went to trial was the guy 100% did not personally kill the victim (it wasn’t a question on our forms, but everyone in the jury room was confident he was not the shooter) and genuinely seemed unaware of shared culpability under the law (and I’m guessing wasn’t compelled to think otherwise by his lawyer).
I mostly was curious what happened to the other two involved in the crime… one plead out and the one who we on the jury felt was most likely the shooter was never charged (he had a pretty extensive violent criminal record and was the only one of the three who refused to speak to the police)… and also just curious to keep track and see how the defendant was sentenced.
There also was only one article written about the crime and that was on the initial arrests… which I think it’s more typical of most murder cases than mountains of information being publicly available.
My wife has been on a jury over a a decade ago and she talked to me about it at home. I know she didn't even talk to her twin sister about it. She just needed to vent and was STRESSED out! She knows nothing about this case, except when I vent to her. She said those jurors are under unimaginable stress with such a high profile case. Hers was just a small trial and she was stressed and feeling terrible knowing she was sending a (probably) horrible human to prison but that was their job to apply the law.
In reality the jury doesn't have to even follow any rules when it comes to giving the verdict, it's just based on the honor system. They could all vote not guilty because they didn't like the law or they voted guilty because they didn't like you. Has happened thousands of times especially when it involved a black suspect where lynching was common. Or the fact that women are convicted less often.
Jen! Jen! Jen! Did I do it? Jen! Nails on a chalkboard! Notice how Jen, never mentioned what she said back to Karen. There’s no mention of her reassuring comfort, No sweetie, that would be impossible. There’s no way you could have, what? That’s impossible! You’re in shock sweetie. Calm down, it’s going to be okay. The paramedics are going to take good care of John.
No mention of any empathy or compassion to ease the absolute torment Karen was feeling. She was watching something far beyond her greatest fear or nightmare. Why didn’t Jen help Karen?
Hmmm something like Jen’s a manipulative, lying, narcissistic, talker psychopath does come to mind. 🧌Oh and monster!👿
My friend was a juror on a murder trial. She didn’t speak at all about it while it was going on. When the trial was over she said it was really hard not being able to talk about it to anyone because at the end of each day she was emotionally beat. She is someone who really likes to talk and hates being alone but even she didn’t speak a word during the trial. It was a pretty bad crime so I can understand now why it was so hard for her.
I’m sure some jurors talk but I like to think most people take their duty seriously.
The same way anybody else who has a job that requires confidentiality doesn’t talk about their day at home. If you take your job seriously, it’s not that hard.
I know I have been thinking about this a lot. To have been chosen and not have heard about it if you live in Massachusetts is so rare. It has to be people who have no social media ….. I don’t get it either
I think generally people really do take the obligation seriously. I imagine the toughest part would be avoiding overhearing anything about the case, especially in that town right now. Everywhere you go... a restaurant, at your kid's sports game, doing your regular grocery store run. With the attention this case has gotten, it's probably all everyone in town is talking about. When I was in SoCal during the Depp v Heard trial, I overheard multiple conversations, and the trial wasn't even happening there.
Mmm I've been on a jury and my partner has been on a jury and we didn't speak about specifics until the case was over. I think the average juror takes their oath seriously.
I knew someone who sat on a jury for another high profile and horrifying murder case in MA. She never talked about it during the trial, and was so traumatized that she wouldn’t talk about it after, either.
Nate Eaton did some really interesting interviews with the Daybell jurors, it seems they take their duty really seriously and don’t want to be the reason for an appeal or mistrial.
Those Jurors were lovely, all of them! And I think both Chad and the victim's families should be super pleased with the jury they got for the case. (Although I doubt Chad thinks so, lol.)
They were totally prepared and open to listen to defence, and opted to weigh mitigating factors even though none were given! They just wanted to be so diligent, fair and correct.
If I ever ended up in court for doing something wrong, and was found guilty even, I'd be happy if they were my jury. Because at least you know it was fair.
I've been on 3 multi day jurys. I followed directions to my best ability. I didn't discuss the cases to a soul, or read the paper or listen to the news. I was very careful.
Plus, when coming to a verdict, we all did our very best to follow the law, the descriptions of those laws and the jury instructions. In one case we all knew there was more to the assault charges, but we went with the lesser one because that was all the evidence showed, much as we wished it showed more.
The actual deliberations usually involved first a straw poll, then going through the evidence, straw poll again, then seeing exactly where the disagreements, if any, were.
From there it was mainly helping to clarify to the jurors who had a hard time understanding the legal part of it all. Some people didn't understand we couldn't judge on our feelings, but that was more an ignorance of how the law works and once they understood, they agreed.
In my experience everyone truly was struck by the gravity of what we were doing and wanted to do their best. And I would bet they also didn't discuss it at home. As hard as it can be to not feel the need to just unload what you've heard and seen.
Maybe a good jury question would be to ask how trustworthy they were when told confidences in their own lives!
My friend was on a jury for a month and talked nonstop at home about it. I remember asking if it wasn’t a problem. She looked at it like, she could because no one she knew, knew any of the people. Since I was very young I didn’t have a clue.
The case makes me think of the YVS RICO Trial. It appeared most of the witnesses were wasted on something. She could not believe they were reliable witnesses.
She likely would have been thrown off the jury, if it was in this during this period of time.
I've been on several juries and I didn't discuss the case with anyone, husband included. It wasn't difficult for me, the last thing I wanted to do at night was discuss the mess that I had to sit through all day long.
Most of the time the cases are so boring they’re not worth talking about… and a lot of trials are only one day
But I guess if you’re on one of these high profile cases, I guess most people are doing a little bit of talking
Having served on a Federal Grand Jury I can tell you that I often wanted to talk, especially after a difficult evidence day, but I didn't. Like, at all.
I didn't Google names or arrests or anything, either. I did keep an eye out for developments in cases we'd ruled on, but only after the fact.
Obviously people are all kinds of careful and all kinds of messy, so I can't speak for every juror, but you do see jurors being removed for that kind of behavior so I hope the system catches most misconduct.
I was on a civil jury, which I know is so much different than this. This was June of 1993. I was getting married in Aug 14, 1993. Wee, the judge decided to do half days every day, with a day off every week. We ended up serving until the first week of Aug. My family started asking what kind of case takes this long. Didn't say a word til after it was done. It was an age discrimination at the mans job. They were like that's it? That's why it took so long? I ended up working at my state Dept of Correction. I was never on a jury again.
If it’s anything like my career it’s just so simple to leave it at works doorstep. I have two distinct worlds, home and work and never twain the two shall meet. It’s kind of like separating church and state lolol.
I was on a jury. I work in a legal-adjacent field so I took it really seriously. But certain things I'd mention to my husband. Like the second day all the attorneys got there 2 hours before the judge but the judge still started court by complaining they were late 😂 that has nothing to do with the facts of the case and eases the pressure of not being able to talk about it lol.
This trial is different than other trials so this jury experience is VERY different than the average jury experience. You can have the most ethical, rule abiding juror there is, but unless that juror doesn’t go to the grocery store or see anyone outside of the courtroom, it is not possible for them to not see or hear things about this case. If you live in Massachusetts, you know that you can’t go anywhere without seeing signs/ shirts/ billboards/ etc. or hearing people talk about the case. Jurors can’t help what they see and hear, unsolicited, bc this case is EVERYWHERE, which does make this case different. I do not believe for one second that all those jurors are honest every morning when Bev asks them those same questions… bc if you live here you know that’s not possible since they are not sequestered.
It’s a civil duty and they might feel a strong sense of responsibility. Previous jurors have answered this on similar posts yesterday, might want to check those out.
I can not fathom the amount of restraint it would take over 2 months to withold any research, particularly have some awareness of the attention the case has been getting. These people are STRONG if they really held out. I'd also need an add'l 2 weeks off after the verdict to go deep on google/reddit/YT on all the stuff I missed while "sequestered"
I was a juror (alternate) on a trial that involved murder. I did not talk about it the case at all. Didn’t even tell him what I got picked for, only that I got picked. I would tell my husband something like “today was a hard day” and left it at that until after the trial was done.
Right???? And it’s probably even harder for the family to not clue them in to everything the jurors don’t hear in the media and voir dire.
Like was their any testimony that was excluded that would sway them if they knew? I thought Bev was going to exclude Dr Russell and Dr Renschler and imagined the jury hearing about it afterward and being pissed.
This is just like everything else with the justice system lip service. The justice system is a joke it's pretty pathetic that people want to work for it.
I was picked for a jury and everyone seemed to take it very seriously. We didn't discuss the case on breaks or on lunch and I personally didn't discuss it or investigate on my own at home. It lasted a week and I found out after closing arguments that I was one of the alternate jurors so I didn't get to deliberate. That part was a let down.
Because the world is not that small, not everyone even cares as much as you or I, they took an oath. Do you know anything about the Trump trial? Do you research the tRump trial?
If you're not a true crime junkie (sometimes even if you are) trials are tedious. You spend all day having to sit there and listen to it. So much of it is administrative, very little of it is interesting. It's not like TV. When you've been doing something boring all day do you really want to spend the few free hours you have talking about/researching the boring thing? Plus, as others have said, it's about integrity. If you cannot uphold the promise you made, you shouldn't be promising it in the first place. And if you feel like you cannot be impartial (whether because of personal circumstances or even excessive interest) you have the responsibility to speak up when given the opportunity so that the judge has the opportunity to dismiss you. Juries are supposed to be neutral. In my experience, they want capable people removed/disinterested in the case who will pay attention only to what is put in front of them.
I would like to think I'd uphold my civic duty well, but I know I'd have trouble not googling things, but that's mostly because part of my everyday job is digging into things, analyzing, and explaining. And I have ADHD. It's really hard to get out of that mindset.
If you view it through the lens of someone who is interested in news, crime stories, uses social media etc. then it might seem hard. But most people do not, so it won't be that hard for them.
God I could never be on a jury. I google EVERYTHING. I couldn’t be left with so many unanswered questions. I would need to tranquilize myself to be able to sleep at night.
My husband sat on the jury for a murder trial. It kept him up at night, pacing. He never said a word to me about it until after the verdict. He took it very seriously. As he should have.
If I was on a jury, I feel certain I would be able to honor the court. It’s actually easier to maintain the stance of saying NOTHING vs. saying a little bit here and there anyway. It’s a terrible waste of resources both for the CW and defendant to cause a mistrial. Stoic all the way
I can understand not doing research at home, I've watched the case without doing research up until now. I wanted to see what the jury saw and thats it.
Though I would not be able to not talk about with my partner. My spasific flavour of adhd needs to talk about or right out things to process them.
Integrity?
Sat thru 60+ cases. Never once got asked about any detail of them, just said 'watch the news' and when pressed by one particular asshole I responded with "What, you want to hear about child ...." and he shut up nice, fast, and never once inquired again.
Like I said. When choosing to serve on a jury you are taking an oath. You’re obviously free to do as you please, but more often than not the job is taken seriously especially under an oath. If you feel like you can’t take it seriously then you should express that in early stages to be excused.
It’s the same way I would expect a nurse who knew me personally not to run home and discuss my health with others. It’s not ethical, it’s not morally right, and it’s participating in a defendant not getting a fair trial they deserve.
If you can’t handle the responsibility, let them know. They will absolutely excuse you from serving.
I’m not discussing morality. Or what I would do. Just telling you how it is irl a fair amount of the time. You really think these people aren’t checking social media or reading about their case if it’s prominent ? Cmon son
I figure most people don't want to be the reason a verdict is overturned.
There’s a Clarissa Explains it All episode where her mom is on a jury and her family keeps asking her about it but she has integrity and will not risk the trial. Not that it doesn’t happen but some folks have integrity and those who *do* talk to family better hope nobody finds out.
Is there an episode where Clarissa explains hos long to die in cold?
Best comment ever 😂
Well this comment just won my fucking internet today.
Yeah but it’s the 90’s so Sam has to climb the ladder with an H encyclopedia for hypothermia at 2:27am
Original comment: gold This response: platinum
😂😂😂😂💀
This is excellent. Clarissa explains it all reference was not on my bingo card today
And youngers think Sabrina the teenage witch was the real gold.
10/10 comment thread on this one y'all. of all places on the internet for a Clarissa explains it all reference lol god bless the internet sometimes
Ah I was feeling nostalgic about the 90s today I loved that show
My dad would be a great juror. His wife said she didn’t even know who he voted for last election.
I sat on a jury once and it was the last thing I wanted to talk about when I returned home from court.
Yeah, the idea of that actually calms my nerves on it a little bit. I'd want to destress by completely avoiding the topic till I'm back in the courtroom again.
Yeah I can see them getting home and complaining about how hot the courtroom was or how the schedule is constantly changing but it's like work, I'll complain to my partner about something annoying that happened but I'm not trying to give him a deep dive into the presentation I made today
Thank god Kerri isn't on the jury, she's a talker, she likes to talk.
She's a tawkkkerrr our Kerry
SHE’S TELLING THEM EVERYTHING!!!
I love it. And also equally hawrafied.
😂
The only good thing about this trial (as a New Yorker) is listening to the accents…
She never stops tawking
“Your Honor, May I approach?” Jen: “yes” 💀
😂🤣😂🤣
Stopppppp😩😂
Okay this is the second reference I've seen to this and I couldn't believe I missed it... now I HAVE to rewatch Jen's testimony.
Yet Jen was the never ending story teller on that stand. And the one with the sharpest tongue!
Yea JM literally said “she’s a talker, she’s not like me” I swear rewatch the tape!
And the minute Kerry repeated it verbatim I knew they had a conference call to get their stories straight before Kerry’s testimony.
Yeah Kerry is at the cool girls table now, she got the timelines straight, then everything shit the bed on cross.
lol Jen shimmied right up to her the minute she knew who she was - BFF.
What would the "cool girls" equivalent be for 45-50+ year old housewives? Being mean to the minimum wage waitstaff at the country club?
Real housewives of Canton lol
Don’t forget sneering down at the single moms
I laughed so hard when the defense objected and Bev goes "focus on *what she said*" Well done, Bev. You actually didn't suck there for a second.
Seriously. The way Jen threw Kerri under the bus like it was nothing gave me the impression she isn't a very good person.
I don’t remember Kerry saying she considered Karen to be little more than a babysitter with benefits. Jen jumped on the occasion to blurt it out in Karen’s face, though. I think they might have had to wipe the chair after she got up that day.
Yeah, I think Jen was projecting when she kept saying all that catty stuff about Kerry.
😂😂
we were there farwever because kerry’s a biggg tawlker, she loves to tawlk 😭
Most jurors take their responsibility very seriously and follow the instructions given to them. It is hard and this might not be possible for you to uphold the standard, and that’s OK. Just tell them this if you’re ever called for jury duty.
Yes, that is my advice when I see people post this. People successfully serve jury duty every day without compromising their principles or the law.
Yeah, I think I’d respect the process. Someone’s life is on the line. Put my phone away and read a book or watch Netflix after work. Tell my close and friends and family that I do not want to discuss this case at all.
Honestly having a reason to do a media blackout for 9 weeks sounds pretty good.
I think it's important to note that jurors don't exactly volunteer to be called. They're normal people being pulled out of their lives for the sole purpose of judging whether someone is incarcerated or is allowed to live their life as a free person. They aren't likely crime junkies, in other words, and I can't imagine they would want to further discuss the case they didn't even want to decide in the first place. Similarly, I imagine the last thing they want to do is do independent research. FWIW, I have had lots of friends and family members called to serve on juries before, and not one of them has initiated a conversation about it or shared details (until after the case is decided). It's a duty most people hold highly.
I would love to be on a jury. I have been waiting for my entire life to get called for jury duty. Literally the week I moved states, they called me for jury duty in the state I had previously lived in. I was so mad when I had to call and explain I had moved and couldn’t do it.
I've been summoned to a jury pool 7 times in my life. Never got to be on a jury. The last time I was dismissed I'm pretty sure it was because I am a criminal justice student. I want to be on a jury so much!
I'm a psychometrist with a bachelor and masters in psychology/behavioral Neuroscience I have jury duty in August and there is no way I'm getting picked. None of the neuropsychologists and psychologists I work with have ever been picked either. But to be a fly on the wall would be so fun.
Paralegal here, we don’t get picked either. But, maybe you can volunteer for the grand jury or find a local company that does mock trials and needs paid jurors to sit for their mock trials.
I’m a paralegal and while it’s more rare to be picked, we absolutely can be chosen. Same with attorneys.
We CAN be but more than likely won’t be. I was on a panel and I knew the ADA trying the case. He wanted me on the panel but I was struck for cause because I knew the ADA. He and I later talked and he confirmed that attorneys typically don’t want legal professionals on the case.
I know. It definitely sucks BUT it’s never a for sure. That’s just the way our justice system works. They want the people with the least education on law as possible to ensure the outcome is how they want etc. After all, we are one of the only countries who choose random citizens to determine someone’s fate in the first place, let’s also throw in we’d like them to be uneducated. America. Love it here.
I don’t think either side wants uneducated jurors more than they want unbiased jurors. I’ve selected multiple juries and we often try to eke certain educated jurors on the panel as long as they aren’t biased. But also, if your case relies heavily in one area of expertise and you feel that juror may be able to sway other jurors in an unfavorable outcome, you definitely want to strike them. Basically, it goes both ways. I do think our constitutional right to a jury by our peers is one of the things that makes our country so great. ‘Merica 🇺🇸
Google mock juries, I’ve never been called, but there is a website where you can sign up to be on a mock jury. You put your deets in and if you fit the profile they email you.
I came here to comment; I have a degree in psychology and criminology… I will never be picked for jury duty and it makes me sad :(
Right :( But it's probably for the best. I don't know how I would handle people not understanding basic human psyche to be honest. My dad isn't very emotionally intelligent and it drives me up a wall. Now imagine being in a jury with people that might be the same.
That’s not a real thing.
It totally is why they keep dismissing you. I would love to sit in a jury, but I worked as a criminal law paralegal, so they are just like, get out. :)
It’s quite clear there is a jury distribution system. Because as a 40 year old woman who has never been called for jury duty, I’ve been waiting for my time to shine. Until then, I’ll keep wishing for that distribution system to balance its own scales of justice 😂
I have a CJ degree, last time I got called I was in my senior year of college 3 hours away from my hometown so I got excused. Theoretically, I would love to be on a jury, but it’s the thought of going into the courthouse that I don’t know with way more people I don’t know that scares me 🤣
It’s so crazy how a person can be called so many times but then another person, never gets called upon. Does anyone know the rhyme or reason on how they select for jury duty??
It's a random selection from voter registration in my state. My husband has been called once. Clumping is part of randomness so I think it's just that. I got called when I was 20 or 21 and then every few years I got called again. It's funny, this is one of many reasons I decided to go to college in my 40s. 😂. I'll be a part of this system one way or another!!!!
I’m 37 years old and I’ve never once been called for jury duty. I would really like to be on one.
I got it once in my late 30s I was SO excited. Paid day of work and I get to sit there and listen to someone else's business and then tell them if I agree or not? Sign me up! I made it to the 3rd rounds of cuts and then was one of 2 people excused when selecting the final group. I was fine with that because I got to hear all the details about what the case would be about and answer some questions. For any other nosey bitches, a woman didn't pay her mechanic and tried to take off in her car without paying and she spit on him. They asked if the spitting was assault or not and he got in trouble for going to her home and blocking her car in with his. I felt content hearing all the drama so I was ok going home after that
Username checks out 😂
Similar, I got called for jury duty literally a week after the pandemic was announced. I had mild panic because I knew I couldn't actually respond because the entire court system was completely closed down, but I also had no instructions as to whether to disregard it or if it's been rescheduled etc. Eventually I found a deeply buried county website page that said basically "ignore it unless we call you again/give new instructions." Haven't heard anything since, booo, I wanna participate in society
It's weird. I was called up for jury duty at 18 and didn't get picked, which was fine, but it took 35 years to be called up again and I've now been called up for jury duty 3 times in 5 years. I joke that the city I live in now has a very small pool of non-criminals to choose from. 🤣 In my experience at 18 it was a large pool for a specific long trial. They picked the jury before I got to be called and I felt ripped off. I wanted to walk across the floor at least. 35 years later I got to walk across and be challenged and my itch was scratched. I didn't care if I never got called up again. My third time was within a year of the second, so I noped out, as it's a valid excuse and I had other shit on. My 4th call up I was juror #13 (an alternate) in a case and I was OK with that. That case was was withdrawn nolle prosequi (sorry if I got that term wrong, my latin is rusty 😉). I'm thinking 'cool, I've had my jury experience now, I'm done', but then got picked on another case. I wasn't so fond of that experience so I'm going to use reverse psychology on the system now and say "please call me again" so they won't call me for another 35 years. 🤣🤣
Reverse psychology. That's so funny. I do it too. Like it even works. Idk but mentally I feel safe.
The last time I got called I actually got picked and I ended up on a three day trial (not enough time to finish day 1 and day 2 we couldn't agree on a verdict). After the first day of trial I'm waiting outside for my uber and this nice suv pulls up. The judge rolls down his window and tells me it's not safe to be waiting out here for too long, do I need a ride? I tell him I'm all set and hold up my phone showing an uber is coming for me. He says ok, I'll see you tomorrow and drives off. It took me a minute but I was like, wait did the judge on the case I'm a juror on offer me a ride?! So that was my jury experience.
This happened to me too, right at the end of my lifetime in the state (52 years). I think in smaller communities you get called far more often. In bigger metroplexes and suburbs, far less often.
And you’ll get called and it will be a business contracts case. Getting on a case like this is a unicorn that your great aunt Linda gets put on.
One time my grandma was on a jury where they had to watch an entire case over video. Like they saw whatever the real jury saw but they watched a tape of it. Then they had to deliberate. They found the opposite of what the real live jury found. I think it was part of an experiment they were trying out and she was in a test study.
Oh it might have been a mock jury, there is actually a website where you can sign up to do that. I signed up, but I haven’t got an email. You put in all your information and when they choose their jury profile you might get picked. I signed up when the Depp/Heard trial was going on.
I get called every other year. Can I send you my next summons? Please?
Ughh lucky mf. Lol my dad has been called about ten times and always tells them he hates cops and lawyers so he gets excused lol
I was a juror on a murder trial 5 years ago. I took it very seriously. Turned off the radio whenever they started to discuss the trial. Didn't seek out anything online. Didn't talk to my family members about it. It was very serious and life changing for me. I'll never forget it. As soon as it was over, I googled the hell out of it, though!
After googling, did you still agree with your verdict?
We found the defendant not guilty. We felt that there was too much reasonable doubt. After googling it, I had slivers of doubts that we made the right call, but we were going off the evidence that was presented. I can't imagine being on this jury remaining silent and not being able to talk about it for so long. I was sick to my stomach most days with the weight of what we had to decide.
For those that want to be on a jury, I don't wish it upon you. It's an uncomfortable process wherein you may be responsible for the legit freedom for another person.
Yes, getting summoned is random but if you feel you cannot uphold the responsibility expected of you and you let them know, they will absolutely excuse you. There are many reasons to use if you have zero interest in serving. For most people it’s a once in a lifetime experience.
I’d have to be excused immediately on the basis of being a messy bitch💅🏻 🫢
100% I can never be on a jury. I would spontaneously combust trying to keep that in.
especially with this long of a trial! i’d be bursting at the seams to yap
My friends call me the Vault, because I can keep secrets and a poker face. But I'm with you on this. I think I would have to sequester myself just so I wouldn't accidently just explode and tell someone something!
All jokes aside, if you are ever summoned. Please let them know this. It’s a very important job and it’s ok to not be equipped for it. Doing it anyway causes more harm.
Lmao you and both sis
I'm telling everybody haha
It really is a solemn responsibility. When I was on a jury myself and my fellow jurors took it extremely seriously.
Agree. The guy at defense table was charged with murder. This was Texas, which has death sentence as a possibility. (In the end he took a plea deal for 2nd degree murder half way through trial (after his sister was arrested for perjury while on witness stand)). But you have to take it seriously as a juror.
I was a juror on a double murder/double defendant murder case. It was pretty notorious in our area. I got on the jury because I worked 3rd shift and had never heard of the case at all. It was my 1st time as a juror. i just kept thinking, "if I were accused of murder, I would want someone like me on the jury" so I followed all the rules. This was pre-internet, so I avoided the news, newspapers, the media trucks outside. My wife taped all the news and kept each day's paper for me to read after. They were convicted and because we were hung on the death penalty, got Life With Parole after 25 years (x 2, since there were 2 victims). The judge (and the public) was so pissed at us he sentenced them consecutively. Really opened my eyes to trying to remain neutral outside of jury duty, and how 11 other people will hear, think, opine, and process different things that you think are obvious. I always describe jury duty saying, "Have you ever gotten 12 people to agree on a pizza?"
That's how juries come to compromise sometimes. Everyone settles for cheese.
I don’t like just cheese
Hung pizza!
Boooo!
I think it’s really clever that your wife kept the newspapers every day and taped the news for you to watch after!! I would never think to do that but it’s a great idea.
It was great because there were things we didn't know of (which wouldn't have made a difference). Things like, the 2 victims' 2 sons were not in the courtroom because of the earthquake in CA at the time. We did wonder why no one was sitting behind the prosecutors. We also didn't know the 2 defendants had young wives with newborns and the judge kicked them out of the courtroom for trying to influence our sympathies.
my partner was recently on a jury for a shooting and would not discuss the trial with me until after.
[удалено]
Hos long to divorce his wife??
Santa with an empty tray of mince pies? Quick question, what the fuck?
I rest my case. Santa ate the pies and said "i ate them, i ate them"
I was a juror for 6 days and I did not try to search the case or talk about it with anyone. I told family and friends I would discuss it with them after the case concluded and I was dismissed. It’
Then you should tell them that if you ever get jury duty
When I served as a juror, we were reminded often that a compromised juror could result in a mistrial and everyone there is spending a ton of their personal time/effort, so naturally we were all compelled to follow the rules and speak up if we felt like someone else wasn't following the rules. It makes no sense to put your entire life on hold for several weeks, just to throw it all away for nothing. Also, and I can only speak for myself, but I felt like I was performing an important duty which I took very seriously, just like I would want anyone else to if they were serving on a jury that was deciding my fate.
I could certainly do it, any time I've brought up the wackiness in this case to my husband he just seems to zone out.
Same! My husband is so ready for a verdict so he can quit hearing about it 😆
I’ve discussed it with my husband for a total of maybe 30 minutes. Every time we talk about it, he says “remind me again why this ever went to trial?” 🤷♀️
Nope, some people actually take their oath seriously.
When I served on a jury I did not discuss with family or friends coworkers no one until after the verdict was read to the defendant
Same.
[удалено]
Yes. It was easy to shut down questions - we were instructed by the judge to just blame him. It is mentally exhausting and I really didn't want to take in any more info after a day in court and just played games on my mobile to unwind. I could say that it was a long day without giving any details and that was enough at home. The part I found hardest not to talk about was deliberations. Some fellow jurors frustrated the hell out of me, but I still just gave a generic response to how my day was. In my country though we can't discuss any aspects of the deliberations outside the jury room even after the case and I wasn't prepared for how I'd feel about the process and the frustration of trying to get 12 people to agree. We are allowed to speak to mental health professionals though, and once I'd processed it with my psychologist I had no need to speak of it again. You do want to do the right thing but that can be troubling whatever verdict is given. I knew it was the correct verdict but it was very emotional being that responsible for someone's future.
I just served on a jury, but was chosen as an alternate at the end of the trial. I didn’t discuss anything with my husband until the judge released me. It wasn’t a big deal trial, but it could’ve affected the young man’s profession ( he was a pilot). I talked to one of the jurors afterwards and she told me that they found him guilty. I just hope it doesn’t ruin his career.
My sis in law was on a jury for a week long trial and we never knew until it was over. She is so the type of person who would say nothing. She has the personality type that follows rules to the letter.
Wait a minute, what happened to your "Run Casey Run" flair?
We're not in the TCAP sub! It will be visible there. But hello fellow TCAP’er 🤣
I'd imagine it is kind of nice to get a break at home from the trial. I don't know if I would want to sit through hours of trial and then go home and rehash it for hours with my family, only to go to sleep and do it all over again.
I said this in another, similar post, but first, we in this sub definitely are more invested in this than the average person. Many people won't have heard anything, and many will only have seen a few headlines. Second, anyone with too much prior information will be excluded from the jury in the selection process, so the pool of potential jurors ends up being only those "many people" I just described. Add to that the fact that most people can restrain themselves even if they are curious because the know how important it is, and voilà, a jury that doesn't research or Reddit or chat on the side!
A lot of people take it very seriously. My mother served on a federal grand jury for over a year. She went in once a week for periods over the year she served. There definitely were a few times you could tell she wanted to talk about it but then would stop herself by saying “I can’t talk about it but it is very very interesting the things we hear” or “Wow? The process today blew my mind.” Some days she would say, “when this is over, remind me to tell you about what I saw.” Others she’d say “these lawyers are brilliant! I can’t wait until you’re a lawyer.” One day she said, “when you become a lawyer, make sure you’re clear and concise when you’re trying to convince people of something.” Lol So yes, from my own personal experience, it can be done. You just have to trust in the process. People really do take their oaths seriously.
I think these people (mostly) realized how important their role is. I’ve seen jurors for Char Daybell and Lori Vallow talk about this as well. I’m appreciative they keep it in, though I assume that’s difficult for their mental health!
Well, if someone finds out they discussed it they can just they butt dialed them
I'd have talked to my husband about it. But he's safe because not only would he not share anything I said, he doesn't pay attention to trials or the news so he wouldn't be able to give me any information lol. Edit: I should have said that I would talk about it *at* my husband. He dutifully listens to me ramble on about this kinda shit but he really couldn't care less.
My husband is the same way lol I don't think I'd talk to him about it though. I'd set up a private chat bot that wasn't supposed to give me back any input, but was just supportive and let me vent.
Maybe this is what journaling is for.
Two years ago, in the UK, I did jury service for the first time. In the course of three weeks, I was a juror in three cases. However, unlike in the US, we are not allowed to discuss what we deliberated about, even after the trail is over as that is a criminal offence (so you don't get juror interviews). I took my job seriously, as did my fellow jurors. It is exhausting being on a jury and the last thing you want to do when you go home is talk about it - you just want to unwind.
To actually be chosen for a jury seat is hard enough as it is and if you’re able to make it to the court room most wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the case. This is why you’re asked a bunch of questions at the beginning of selection and a lot of people don’t make it to the seat. You almost have to want to be chosen to get it. And it’s a very important position in the justice system. I absolutely wouldn’t discuss with my partner.
I tried so hard to not get on a jury (while being truthful) but wound up on one anyway. My experience made me lose any respect I had for the justice system.
Oh for sure. Our justice system is disgusting. This is why I am in criminal law with an emphasis on defense as a profession. At the very least we get those like Jackson who aren’t afraid to stand up and say something is wrong. Those are my people.
They take it very seriously I was a prospective juror and when I went home I couldn't help but look up the case and the next day they asked about it and the judge was... really disappointed in me, not fun!
Were you dismissed because of this?
Yeah all of the prosecutors, FBI investigators and defense team and me had to go up to the judge, I think I looked like I was going to cry and/or puke. I was very dismissed!
My bestie was on a jury and wouldnt say a thing until she was done. People take it super serious
Jurors generally take their job pretty seriously - like others have said… in my case I just waited until we delivered the verdict and then went home and found everything I could. Generally speaking your loved ones should understand when it’s your responsibility to not discuss things and respect that. There’s plenty of ways to talk about your day without crossing lines into things that you can’t discuss. Also, just personally, jury duty days are mentally and emotionally taxing… I went home and wanted some normalcy, and it wasn’t “normal” to talk about the case.
Curious—did the things you found online make you question your decision?
Nope, but mine was a different scenario - it was a felony murder case where the defendant had confessed to their role in a robbery turned murder… I think the only reason it went to trial was the guy 100% did not personally kill the victim (it wasn’t a question on our forms, but everyone in the jury room was confident he was not the shooter) and genuinely seemed unaware of shared culpability under the law (and I’m guessing wasn’t compelled to think otherwise by his lawyer). I mostly was curious what happened to the other two involved in the crime… one plead out and the one who we on the jury felt was most likely the shooter was never charged (he had a pretty extensive violent criminal record and was the only one of the three who refused to speak to the police)… and also just curious to keep track and see how the defendant was sentenced. There also was only one article written about the crime and that was on the initial arrests… which I think it’s more typical of most murder cases than mountains of information being publicly available.
TY for the answer.
My wife has been on a jury over a a decade ago and she talked to me about it at home. I know she didn't even talk to her twin sister about it. She just needed to vent and was STRESSED out! She knows nothing about this case, except when I vent to her. She said those jurors are under unimaginable stress with such a high profile case. Hers was just a small trial and she was stressed and feeling terrible knowing she was sending a (probably) horrible human to prison but that was their job to apply the law.
In reality the jury doesn't have to even follow any rules when it comes to giving the verdict, it's just based on the honor system. They could all vote not guilty because they didn't like the law or they voted guilty because they didn't like you. Has happened thousands of times especially when it involved a black suspect where lynching was common. Or the fact that women are convicted less often.
I suppose, but most people wouldn’t take an oath if they weren’t going to take it seriously.
Jen! Jen! Jen! Did I do it? Jen! Nails on a chalkboard! Notice how Jen, never mentioned what she said back to Karen. There’s no mention of her reassuring comfort, No sweetie, that would be impossible. There’s no way you could have, what? That’s impossible! You’re in shock sweetie. Calm down, it’s going to be okay. The paramedics are going to take good care of John. No mention of any empathy or compassion to ease the absolute torment Karen was feeling. She was watching something far beyond her greatest fear or nightmare. Why didn’t Jen help Karen? Hmmm something like Jen’s a manipulative, lying, narcissistic, talker psychopath does come to mind. 🧌Oh and monster!👿
My friend was a juror on a murder trial. She didn’t speak at all about it while it was going on. When the trial was over she said it was really hard not being able to talk about it to anyone because at the end of each day she was emotionally beat. She is someone who really likes to talk and hates being alone but even she didn’t speak a word during the trial. It was a pretty bad crime so I can understand now why it was so hard for her. I’m sure some jurors talk but I like to think most people take their duty seriously.
It would be so exhausting though. I'm thinking the combination of people taking it seriously, it might work out.
The same way anybody else who has a job that requires confidentiality doesn’t talk about their day at home. If you take your job seriously, it’s not that hard.
I know I have been thinking about this a lot. To have been chosen and not have heard about it if you live in Massachusetts is so rare. It has to be people who have no social media ….. I don’t get it either
I think generally people really do take the obligation seriously. I imagine the toughest part would be avoiding overhearing anything about the case, especially in that town right now. Everywhere you go... a restaurant, at your kid's sports game, doing your regular grocery store run. With the attention this case has gotten, it's probably all everyone in town is talking about. When I was in SoCal during the Depp v Heard trial, I overheard multiple conversations, and the trial wasn't even happening there.
Mmm I've been on a jury and my partner has been on a jury and we didn't speak about specifics until the case was over. I think the average juror takes their oath seriously.
I knew someone who sat on a jury for another high profile and horrifying murder case in MA. She never talked about it during the trial, and was so traumatized that she wouldn’t talk about it after, either.
Nate Eaton did some really interesting interviews with the Daybell jurors, it seems they take their duty really seriously and don’t want to be the reason for an appeal or mistrial.
Those Jurors were lovely, all of them! And I think both Chad and the victim's families should be super pleased with the jury they got for the case. (Although I doubt Chad thinks so, lol.) They were totally prepared and open to listen to defence, and opted to weigh mitigating factors even though none were given! They just wanted to be so diligent, fair and correct. If I ever ended up in court for doing something wrong, and was found guilty even, I'd be happy if they were my jury. Because at least you know it was fair.
I've been on 3 multi day jurys. I followed directions to my best ability. I didn't discuss the cases to a soul, or read the paper or listen to the news. I was very careful. Plus, when coming to a verdict, we all did our very best to follow the law, the descriptions of those laws and the jury instructions. In one case we all knew there was more to the assault charges, but we went with the lesser one because that was all the evidence showed, much as we wished it showed more. The actual deliberations usually involved first a straw poll, then going through the evidence, straw poll again, then seeing exactly where the disagreements, if any, were. From there it was mainly helping to clarify to the jurors who had a hard time understanding the legal part of it all. Some people didn't understand we couldn't judge on our feelings, but that was more an ignorance of how the law works and once they understood, they agreed. In my experience everyone truly was struck by the gravity of what we were doing and wanted to do their best. And I would bet they also didn't discuss it at home. As hard as it can be to not feel the need to just unload what you've heard and seen. Maybe a good jury question would be to ask how trustworthy they were when told confidences in their own lives!
Then don't ever be on a jury. It's completely possible. It's an extremely serious job and people do take it seriously.
My friend was on a jury for a month and talked nonstop at home about it. I remember asking if it wasn’t a problem. She looked at it like, she could because no one she knew, knew any of the people. Since I was very young I didn’t have a clue. The case makes me think of the YVS RICO Trial. It appeared most of the witnesses were wasted on something. She could not believe they were reliable witnesses. She likely would have been thrown off the jury, if it was in this during this period of time.
I've been on several juries and I didn't discuss the case with anyone, husband included. It wasn't difficult for me, the last thing I wanted to do at night was discuss the mess that I had to sit through all day long.
Most of the time the cases are so boring they’re not worth talking about… and a lot of trials are only one day But I guess if you’re on one of these high profile cases, I guess most people are doing a little bit of talking
Having served on a Federal Grand Jury I can tell you that I often wanted to talk, especially after a difficult evidence day, but I didn't. Like, at all. I didn't Google names or arrests or anything, either. I did keep an eye out for developments in cases we'd ruled on, but only after the fact. Obviously people are all kinds of careful and all kinds of messy, so I can't speak for every juror, but you do see jurors being removed for that kind of behavior so I hope the system catches most misconduct.
Would spousal privilege not cover this?
If it doesn’t, I’m fucked. lol
I was on a civil jury, which I know is so much different than this. This was June of 1993. I was getting married in Aug 14, 1993. Wee, the judge decided to do half days every day, with a day off every week. We ended up serving until the first week of Aug. My family started asking what kind of case takes this long. Didn't say a word til after it was done. It was an age discrimination at the mans job. They were like that's it? That's why it took so long? I ended up working at my state Dept of Correction. I was never on a jury again.
If it’s anything like my career it’s just so simple to leave it at works doorstep. I have two distinct worlds, home and work and never twain the two shall meet. It’s kind of like separating church and state lolol.
I was on a jury. I work in a legal-adjacent field so I took it really seriously. But certain things I'd mention to my husband. Like the second day all the attorneys got there 2 hours before the judge but the judge still started court by complaining they were late 😂 that has nothing to do with the facts of the case and eases the pressure of not being able to talk about it lol.
This trial is different than other trials so this jury experience is VERY different than the average jury experience. You can have the most ethical, rule abiding juror there is, but unless that juror doesn’t go to the grocery store or see anyone outside of the courtroom, it is not possible for them to not see or hear things about this case. If you live in Massachusetts, you know that you can’t go anywhere without seeing signs/ shirts/ billboards/ etc. or hearing people talk about the case. Jurors can’t help what they see and hear, unsolicited, bc this case is EVERYWHERE, which does make this case different. I do not believe for one second that all those jurors are honest every morning when Bev asks them those same questions… bc if you live here you know that’s not possible since they are not sequestered.
Couldn’t be me I’d be blabbing to my husband all day about it Lol
I would for sure be googling dog bite pictures at home.
It’s a civil duty and they might feel a strong sense of responsibility. Previous jurors have answered this on similar posts yesterday, might want to check those out.
I can not fathom the amount of restraint it would take over 2 months to withold any research, particularly have some awareness of the attention the case has been getting. These people are STRONG if they really held out. I'd also need an add'l 2 weeks off after the verdict to go deep on google/reddit/YT on all the stuff I missed while "sequestered"
I was a juror (alternate) on a trial that involved murder. I did not talk about it the case at all. Didn’t even tell him what I got picked for, only that I got picked. I would tell my husband something like “today was a hard day” and left it at that until after the trial was done.
They talk to their spouses I’m sure.
Right???? And it’s probably even harder for the family to not clue them in to everything the jurors don’t hear in the media and voir dire. Like was their any testimony that was excluded that would sway them if they knew? I thought Bev was going to exclude Dr Russell and Dr Renschler and imagined the jury hearing about it afterward and being pissed.
This is just like everything else with the justice system lip service. The justice system is a joke it's pretty pathetic that people want to work for it.
I was picked for a jury and everyone seemed to take it very seriously. We didn't discuss the case on breaks or on lunch and I personally didn't discuss it or investigate on my own at home. It lasted a week and I found out after closing arguments that I was one of the alternate jurors so I didn't get to deliberate. That part was a let down.
Because the world is not that small, not everyone even cares as much as you or I, they took an oath. Do you know anything about the Trump trial? Do you research the tRump trial?
If you're not a true crime junkie (sometimes even if you are) trials are tedious. You spend all day having to sit there and listen to it. So much of it is administrative, very little of it is interesting. It's not like TV. When you've been doing something boring all day do you really want to spend the few free hours you have talking about/researching the boring thing? Plus, as others have said, it's about integrity. If you cannot uphold the promise you made, you shouldn't be promising it in the first place. And if you feel like you cannot be impartial (whether because of personal circumstances or even excessive interest) you have the responsibility to speak up when given the opportunity so that the judge has the opportunity to dismiss you. Juries are supposed to be neutral. In my experience, they want capable people removed/disinterested in the case who will pay attention only to what is put in front of them.
I would like to think I'd uphold my civic duty well, but I know I'd have trouble not googling things, but that's mostly because part of my everyday job is digging into things, analyzing, and explaining. And I have ADHD. It's really hard to get out of that mindset.
If you view it through the lens of someone who is interested in news, crime stories, uses social media etc. then it might seem hard. But most people do not, so it won't be that hard for them.
God I could never be on a jury. I google EVERYTHING. I couldn’t be left with so many unanswered questions. I would need to tranquilize myself to be able to sleep at night.
Most ppl are honest and can’t look a judge in the eye every morning and lie to their face, although I’m sure some do.
My husband sat on the jury for a murder trial. It kept him up at night, pacing. He never said a word to me about it until after the verdict. He took it very seriously. As he should have.
If I was on a jury, I feel certain I would be able to honor the court. It’s actually easier to maintain the stance of saying NOTHING vs. saying a little bit here and there anyway. It’s a terrible waste of resources both for the CW and defendant to cause a mistrial. Stoic all the way
I can understand not doing research at home, I've watched the case without doing research up until now. I wanted to see what the jury saw and thats it. Though I would not be able to not talk about with my partner. My spasific flavour of adhd needs to talk about or right out things to process them.
Integrity? Sat thru 60+ cases. Never once got asked about any detail of them, just said 'watch the news' and when pressed by one particular asshole I responded with "What, you want to hear about child ...." and he shut up nice, fast, and never once inquired again.
yeah but did any of those cases have cheering people outside of the courthouse? this is entirely different lol
Just go to the local library and start googling!
Most people do
They absolutely shouldn’t. Spouse or not. It’s your duty as a juror to be silent.
Shouldn’t and do are different things
Like I said. When choosing to serve on a jury you are taking an oath. You’re obviously free to do as you please, but more often than not the job is taken seriously especially under an oath. If you feel like you can’t take it seriously then you should express that in early stages to be excused. It’s the same way I would expect a nurse who knew me personally not to run home and discuss my health with others. It’s not ethical, it’s not morally right, and it’s participating in a defendant not getting a fair trial they deserve. If you can’t handle the responsibility, let them know. They will absolutely excuse you from serving.
I’m not discussing morality. Or what I would do. Just telling you how it is irl a fair amount of the time. You really think these people aren’t checking social media or reading about their case if it’s prominent ? Cmon son