Do you really think you could eliminate all emotion from jury duty?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Disgustedman is scheduled for jury duty. He mentioned that he was to determine someone's fate. I was wondering could a person really judge someone without emotion-just on the evidence? I used to think that, oh hell, yes I could. But then I had jury duty. One of the accused was a 20+ weaselly looking guy. He looked around just like a rat does. He was laughing and making jokes.

He had this unbelievably gorgeous female friend- movie star quality, and she's with HIM. I didn't know what the case was, or any details, but I knew that weaselly SOB did it. I was shocked at how emotional I was in judging that guy. BTW, he did do whatever, he pleaded out. Do you really think you could eliminate all emotion from jury duty?
 

fuzzybuddy said:
Disgustedman is scheduled for jury duty. He mentioned that he was to determine someone's fate. I was wondering could a person really judge someone without emotion-just on the evidence? I used to think that, oh hell, yes I could. But then I had jury duty. One of the accused was a 20+ weaselly looking guy. He looked around just like a rat does. He was laughing and making jokes. He had this unbelievably gorgeous female friend- movie star quality, and she's with HIM. I didn't know what the case was, or any details, but I knew that weaselly SOB did it. I was shocked at how emotional I was in judging that guy. BTW, he did do whatever, he pleaded out. Do you really think you could eliminate all emotion from jury duty?
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Most of us have first impressions and that will often guide our thoughts about the validity of that person. I have been in a jury pool, but not selected and I was ok with that. Not because I didn’t want to do my duty or could spare the time. I would like to have been on a jury, but if I’m not selected, I don’t take it personal. The case I was considered for and since I had been through that myself because of my accident. I was automatically eliminated.
 

Moon Rat said:
Most of us have first impressions and that will often guide our thoughts about the validity of that person. I have been in a jury pool, but not selected and I was ok with that. Not because I didn’t want to do my duty or could spare the time. I would like to have been on a jury, but if I’m not selected, I don’t take it personal. The case I was considered for and since I had been through that myself because of my accident. I was automatically eliminated.
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Same here. I was in the jury pool, but not selected. I'm also a Registered Nurse, and for some reason, attorneys don't like us on juries.
 
No, I definitely could not, can you imagine being on the jury at some of the horrendous child abuse/murder trials we have heard about ?

I would more likely put a contract out on the perpetrator, ending up in the slammer myself !
 
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I will add, the first time called, I was on the jury. The case was a 45 year old man, sparking a 17 year old female. They both had met at church, he never did anything s.e.x.ual with her. (No naked pictures sent or received either)

But he did come to her house, enter illegally (he'd been served with a court order no contact) so he was convicted on violations of trespassing, violation of court order and burglary.

The burglary charge was a stretch, but I've got to admit, that left me feeling a bit slimy with all his actions, so I wasn't unhappy with the results.

Wasn't mad, but did wonder how he couldn't see the possible results if caught. So he learned the hard way.
 
Some day, AI will determine a person's guilt based purely on the facts. We'll just go to a judicial kiosk, tell our side of the story, and the verdict will be rendered after all sides of the story are told. Not a bad idea. The computer will detect who's lying, who's telling the truth, what laws apply and render a verdict without emotions playing a role. Equal justice without your wealth and your ability to afford high-priced lawyers who know how to skirt the law determining whether you're guilty or innocent.
 
A person who is guided by emotion over logic should not serve on a jury. If you cannot set emotion aside and think logically it's not the role for you. If you are governed by emotions you should say so in the questioning phase of choosing the jury. Just tell them that you put feelings first, over facts.

Court is not the place to allow your feelings to take over common sense. It's serious business and just because you feel sorry for the criminal does not give you the right to inflict more harm on the person he/she victimized.
 
Years ago the boyfriend of my best friend was charged with a random rape. I attended the trial. Ricky was black, very dark. The "facts" did not prove the case. The victim identified a police detective in the courtroom as her rapist. Ricky was found guilty, harsh sentence. Years later my friend, a Ph.D in Psychology, reviewed the evidence in her head and she thought he was indeed guilty. The trial proved nothing.
 
Probably not. When I went to jury duty selection only once, (I've since been permanently excused by my MD) I was excused "without cause."

Questions they asked was if you or anyone close to you was involved in law enforcement. No for me. If you or anyone close to you had been a victim of a crime. Yes for me.

I remember one woman waiting before we went into the court room all hyped up and giddy. She seemed excited to potentially on a jury. No thanks, not me.
 
Remy said:
Probably not. When I went to jury duty selection only once, (I've since been permanently excused by my MD) I was excused "without cause."

Questions they asked was if you or anyone close to you was involved in law enforcement. No for me. If you or anyone close to you had been a victim of a crime. Yes for me.

I remember one woman waiting before we went into the court room all hyped up and giddy. She seemed excited to potentially on a jury. No thanks, not me.
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Always glad to see another Californian!
 
"Do you really think you could eliminate all emotion from jury duty?"

No. I've been excused from jury duty twice. If called again hopefully I can avoid it. I have no desire to decide someone else's fate.
 
"Do you really think you could eliminate all emotion from jury duty?"

You are not asked to be emotionless when serving on a jury. What is asked and expected in to be an impartial jurist. Use your common sense, intuition as why a person acts and reacts to a situation, and most of all, examine the facts. Judges will explain any questions, and also the law the defendant is accused of breaking, etc. Jurors don't have to like the defendant, the situation, or the outcome, they are sitting on the jury to maintain and carry out our legal parameters. To be fair and impartial is very difficult in the best of court hearings, that is why there are 12 people to hear, discuss, and decide what is right or wrong.
 

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