As I mentioned the other day, I had to report back yesterday for part II of Jury Duty selection. We immediately went in to the courtroom, and I was selected in the first round. For the rest of the day I was known as Juror #6.
The trial was for a murder case. A man was accused of stabbing another man to death back in 2003. He was claiming self-defense.
The judge, prosecution, and defense proceeded to ask us all questions, eliminating some of us as we went. Luckily, at the end of the day I was finally eliminated. It was the prosecution that booted me.
Throughout the day it became clear from the questions that the prosecution was looking for people that would be relatively easy to convince, and were ‘team players’ (they would go along with the rest of the group). The defense, on the other hand, was looking for people who would make up their own mind, and not be pressured by the rest of the group.
Based on my answers, I think the prosecution viewed me as a possible trouble-maker. My answers implied that I would need absolute proof before I could convict a man of murder, and I would not be swayed by the opinions of others.
Although I didn’t want to serve on this jury, I answered all the questions honestly. I didn’t want to just make stuff up to get out of it. Some people were doing that, and it was obvious.
Now that I have been excused, I can’t be called again for 1 year :).