Yesterday, I was called to criminal court jury duty. I was
impressed that a judge came down to the holding room to explain the process
that was set-up to guide the criminal justice system.
Once our group of 25 was called into Court Room the voir dire left us all rather exposed. Having
to truthfully answer probing questions takes a room full of anxious strangers ,
who expose personal information, and creates some sort of mystical bond.
The people to my immediate right and left,
numbers nine and eleven made quite an impression upon me.
Prospective juror number nine had been falsely
arrested and imprisoned, and later shot and robbed and not given due process.
Number eleven, a widow, who is over 60,
works four part time jobs and has a 24 year old daughter living with her. She
spoke about her diabetes and her tight control of the cell phones that she provided to her children.
When we were asked if we might be prejudice
against the defendant who was charged with leude and lascivious behavior with a
16 year old, I had to say, "Perhaps." My years of teaching high
school students left me with an indelible mark in regard to young girls. I was
not selected for this jury, but I wonder about the outcome.
Being non-judgmental is part of my Lenten prayer.
