An engrossing look at the jury selection process from the inside by an editor at the Santa Maria Times:
- Just call me 078628.
For a brief time Monday, that number was my name as a member of the jury pool for the Michael Jackson molestation trial.
Random sampling had nabbed me, among the some 750 prospective jurors for what one prosecutor dubbed the trial of the ages.
....There was little doubt what this was for, but a court official confirmed it: we were part of "The People of the State of California vs Michael Joe Jackson."
Most of the time, jurors haven't a clue about the defendant. Of course, this is far from the typical case, despite everyone's attempts to act otherwise.
Surprisingly, officials didn't make any warnings about avoiding comments as we went through the process. Some people read newspapers previewing the hoopla surrounding the case.
One would-be juror loudly proclaimed his plans to write a book.
"He is weird," another man said of Jackson.
A third commented that Jackson can't seem to decide on his color and made remarks about a "vendetta" from the District Attorney's Office.
....Upon arrival, court staff confirmed we were in the right locale and handed out plastic ID holders to display our numeric names and the word "juror" through the small square window.
A jury services official explained the numbers as a way to shield identities and shelter us from the gaggle of media (ouch).
....Finally, two hours after arriving, we were on the move, shuffled to the courtroom as crowds hidden from sight chanted "Michael is innocent."
In the front of the courtroom, decked out in a vibrant white, Michael Jackson stood, facing us as attorneys flanked him. The much-photographed entertainer moved his lips to a smile as we entered. His attorneys made eye contact with several, and smiled....
The judge-turned-professor reminded that jury duty is the responsibility of American citizenship, a reason so many have died fighting for freedom.
After asking those with hardship pleas to remain, nearly two-thirds left to fill out questionnaires.
Article comments
1 - JR
I am wondering if I should feel paranoid, relieved, left out, or not think much about it (I choose the latter), but I have never been called to jury duty in my entire life.
I've been called once, but I never made it onto a jury. What's frustrating is that while I would love to serve on a jury, it's hard to find an employer who doesn't strongly discourage it due to the likelihood that you'll be out of action for several weeks. I think only government employees get salary for more than two weeks of jury duty; most people probably get nothing but the $15 per day.
There's no doubt that the whole process can be incredibly boring. But I did learn from my fellow jury pool that I have "a gift" for jigsaw puzzles.
2 - Eric Olsen
thanks JR, the hardships caused by the requirements of duty would seem to skew the makeup of juries, I would think. i'm sure it would be a very interesting experience and my responsibilities right now would force me to try to get out of it if called, but I do think it odd I have never been called by now.
3 - RJ
I once received a piece of mail telling me I might be called for jury duty in the near future. But nothing came of it.