A couple of years ago, I had a chance to serve on a jury — and not just any jury, but a two-week sexual abuse case.

I had been called in for jury duty before, but it never turned out.  Once I think I was released from coming in when I called the automated number the night before, and another time I waited half the day just to find out that the case I had been selected for was postponed.

This time, though, I was selected from the larger pool of jurors right away, and then I went upstairs with about forty or fifty other potential jurors.  After a rigorous screening process that took most of the day, I was selected to serve on the jury!

The case was a long, difficult one that involved more than a week of evidence, some of it upsetting.  The Clearwater criminal lawyer on the defense’s side did the best she could, but the evidence was stacked again her client.  In the end, we all agreed and convicted him of all counts.

This experience made me wonder what the defense lawyer thought of her client.  Did she actually believe he was innocent, despite all of the evidence against him?  Is it required that she does believe him in order for her to represent him?  I think, if I were a criminal defense attorney in St. Petersburg, I would have a difficult time defending anyone I didn’t  believe in.

Serving on a jury for such a major case had a huge impact on me, but I can’t say I’m sorry I did.  In fact, I am glad I did.  It was certainly a life-changing event, but not at all in a bad way!

Here’s a great video I  found on YouTube that basically says it all.  Just insert your state’s name instead of Texas, and the message applies to basically everyone!

Technorati Tags: , ,