Paul's Perambulations a personal blog

Although I often get called to report for jury duty, this week was the first time I have been selected to serve. Usually they are not interested in me; search Jury Duty on this site for possible reasons. This time I was selected even though I wore a button that said Wage Peace next to the button that said Juror and had indicated on a questionnaire that I could not promise to follow the judge’s instructions. My thinking on this issue is that I would have to follow my conscience first, if there were a conflict between conscience and the law. I am pleased that I was found suitable for jury duty. Things might have been different in a murder trial, because I cannot support capital punishment. It is appropriate to remove from society people who are a danger to others, but I wish to leave open the possibility of rehabilitation. The trial lasted four days, and to learn about the trial itself, read… 

From my daily Facebook posts:

Paul Sheldon is now serving jury duty on a criminal case. Interesting that I was selected despite wearing a Wage Peace pin next to my Juror pin, turned down the proffered bible, and chose to affirm. In response to the question that asked if I was certain to follow any instructions that the judge might give, I had checked NO. Wasn’t accepted when I did such things before.

Paul Sheldon is back from second day of  jury duty. Let out after courthouse closed, again. It’s difficult work, and everyone is working hard. All jury members seem competent, appropriately serious, and attentive. Some quiet sobbing from jury during testimony. Return tomorrow for more.

Paul Sheldon is still on jury duty. We finished with all testimony today, and tomorrow morning (4th day) we are scheduled to hear closing arguments from both sides and then receive our instructions and charge from the judge. Our deliberations will begin right after that.

Fran Sheldon
I’ve never served on a jury, but I’m familiar with the trial process from my days as a litigation paralegal. It’s imperfect, based as it is on the testimony of fallible and occasionally disingenuous witnesses, so the juror’s duty of discerning the truth is a difficult one. But trial by a jury of our peers is the foundation of our criminal justice system, and it takes men and women who accept the challenge to keep the system working. I’m so proud you’re one of them.

Paul Sheldon and jury reached a VERDICT just minutes ago, after nearly a week in court. Testimony was complex and sometimes contradictory, with no physical evidence, but we found defendant GUILTY of rape of an underage stepchild in a rather dysfunctional family.

Judge Frank T. Hazel did an excellent job conducting the trial. He takes his work seriously and spoke appreciatively with the jury after the trial was over. He is clearly concerned with educating jurors about the justice system, and I heartly approve of his work in this regard.

There was a great deal of conflicting testimony, which it would be pointless to try to recreate here. Ask me, if you would like the details. In any case, I believe justice was done.