how exactly did we get from "to look to say" to "juror questioning"?
4.1 miles. I didn't wear my heart rate monitor or my stopwatch, and I kinda wish I had, because it was a good run and I'd like to know how long it took me. Oh well.
Turned out I could write a lot--they didn't call us into the courtroom until about 11:35. The judge announced the maximum length of the trial (until next Thursday), they went through the hardship cases, then they went through the "Do you know this guy?" cases (there actually was one--that candidate was excused), and then they selected the first 18 sacrificial lambs. I was not one of them.
And once those 18 were selected...we broke for lunch. Before getting the jury instructions or anything. 90 minute break, and then we pick up where we left off.
On the juror sheet they ask if you have a relative or close friend who's involved in the legal system. Should I mention Lizzie the defense lawyer? I asked myself. "Oh sure, we've never met, but she seems quite knowledgeable and sane, at least most of the time," I could see myself saying.
I realized I hadn't brought the full Diane Happy Pak, filled with coloring books and chocolates and reading materials and other things to keep me busy (writing on legal pads pales after a while), so I came home and gathered up Titan and the latest issue of Scenario magazine (which publishes 4 screenplays per issue--it's the quickest way to build your script library). I thought of Scenario because another juror candidate was reading it. Yes, we are all obsessed by screenwriting in this town.
After a full afternoon of questioning, it's still not over.
They selected 12 jurors and 6 alternates for the first round of questioning. You have to state your name, whether you're married, how many kids you've got, what you do, what your spouse does, and whether you've ever served on a jury before (and if so, what kind and did they reach a verdict). There are a whole bunch of questions about whether you're able to hold to the whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing, whether you know any lawyers (and can refrain from talking about the case with them), whether you have (or someone you know has) ever been charged with a crime, whether you have (or someone you know has) ever been the victim of a crime.
Almost everyone has had a car stolen. It was kind of weird.
There were also case-specific questions. Without getting into details, the judge inquired into our feelings about being asked for money on the streets.
After the first 18 finished questioning, the defense attorney and the district attorney excused 7 jurors. (I knew one of them would be excused--she was bucking for it.) Then the judge called 7 more of us, including me. We went through questioning, and then, finally...
...the judge called it a day.
So we have to go back there tomorrow morning for the rest of the challenges from the attornies.
Oy.
I suspect, however, that I may be one of those excused. I'm not sure. I may be wrong, and you'll be among the first to hear about it. Why? Well, because when asked about the crime thing I mentioned that a close friend had been the victim of a violent attack and my husband and I had taken care of him afterwards. That seemed to surprise everyone.
Plus, I'm evidently the only person in LA who is a)annoyed by being solicited for money on the streets and b)refuses to give money.
I was the 24th person asked the question, and the first to say, Nope, not unless I feel threatened. Which usually I don't, but I mentioned one time when I definitely did.
Well, don't I feel as though I'm the sole hardhearted person in the Greater Los Angeles area. We were supposed to answer the questions honestly, weren't we?
Of course, I also answered the question of Occupation with "Screenwriter," so maybe this obfuscation thing is coming easier to me than I thought.
|
|
|
|
Copyright 1998 Diane Patterson
Send comments and questions to diane@spies.com