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As a two year resident of Mountain Home and Elmore County I had the opportunity to be a juror for the first time in my life. Not that I haven't been summons to do my civic duties in the past, but that was in different States and I was never chosen as a juror. So, was this a good or bad experience? I can easily say the lead up to getting selected on a jury is not something that most people would say is either fun or exciting. It's an slow, boring process but the Elmore County version was made much more bearable than in other places in the US.
Selected and Ready to Listen
I will say our legal system is truly a ceremonial system first and a legal system second when it comes to a trial. Lot's of legalese talk and reading of documents that contain more numbers than true sentences. After all, the accused must be advised at least 3 times what codes and laws they broke before anyone can raised their right hand and "swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth". Once all the often repeat ceremonial mumbo-jumbo is dispensed with, we finally get to hear some evidence. But this witness/evidence procedure is an often interrupted process where a jury member can expect to be removed from the court room a number of time. While the jury is away the lawyers try to play hide and seek and seek and hide with what the witness(s) can or cannot say in open court. I suppose it's a game lawyers play but an extremely important game that must be played out in order to get true justice.
Once all the evidence the lawyers want the jury to hear is presented, then the ceremonial system kicks in again and the jury gets to hear more statue numbers, case numbers and a repeat reading of all the charges. The ceremonial process ends and the jury is excused to debate the case. Guilty or Innocent
After sitting in a court room listening to all the evidence I have to suspect each juror walks in the jury room with some idea of the defendant's guilt or innocence. Some even have tied the knot on the noose or pulled out the freedom key to the jail cell. But when 12 people with 12 different backgrounds start talking about what they heard in court, minds can easily be changed. During the deliberations, there was much frank and serious discussion with most jurors bringing up good points to defend their position on guilt or innocence. My position was swayed back and forth....but in the end, the fine citizens of Mountain Home and Elmore County came to what was the correct verdict. Guilty!
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Power of the Jury System
I found out in three short hours just how powerful the jury system truly is. No matter what you think walking into the jury room to deliberate a criminal case, if you listen and keep an open mind, a good decision will be made. I was amazed how well 12 people could pick through the facts, weigh the evidence and throw out the red herrings to make the proper decision. I don't think there is a better legal system out there ANY WHERE and I'm proud of what our forefathers left us.
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