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I had jury duty once and actually got called to serve on two trials. I find it fascinating how each jurisdiction does jury duty. The first trial was a drug possession case. We ended up finding the defendant guilty. After the trial, we had the opportunity to meet with the judge and have some questions answered that weren't allowed during the trial. If you get that opportunity, I would recommend not going. The information we got convinced me that we got it wrong and I still deal with that decision. Luckily it was a first offense and the judge gave him a reduced sentence.

Prayers for getting it right.

Rev. Ref

Gordon, just wanted to say I'll be praying for you over the next day or two as you have to sit through things most of us do not want to hear or see.

In Australia I was automatically disqualified from jury duty because I'm a priest. Something about 'whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven, whose sins you retain, they are retained', and not sitting in judgement, and all that. I think I would have found it tough to reconcile the experience with my ministry of reconciliation and restorative justice - but it probably would have been the good kind of tough, the kind that challenges you to grow.

Anyway, I'm lighting a candle in a fireplace in Australia for you, and praying that this experience will be the good kind of tough.

I read, with great interest your reaction to being summoned for jury service and I was blessed.I gave my life to our Lord many years ago and have been trying to live up to that ever since, "to make full work of my ministry". "Do you not know that you will judge the angels..much less the matters of men"? Paul speaking. And by the way..."Judge not lest ye be judged" must be put in context as it relates to the body of believers. You must understand what "Judging" somebody actually means. It is the responsibility of all who claim to be Christians (born agin in Spirit-the new man). For when you actually understand what a "new man" is and what being "Spirit Filled" is you will notice that you now walk by revelation and not the five senses, which can fool anybody, spirit will not.Pneuma Hagion - Holy Spirit. Paul even indicated that we are not to turn these things over to "Heathen Judges" but to put them before the elders of the church....(Elders doesn't mean age)So I will pray for you (always)not just while you serve as a juror.
A Brother In Christ

Gordon, my prayers are with you. I served on jury duty for 7 months (small town, long time). I was called in for three cases. The first two cases I was dismissed for knowing the police officers (like I said small town). One of those was capital murder. The judge in the case, before saying what is was, said that they were not seeking the death penalty so I could have potential sat on the jury (apparently ministers get out of death penalty cases). The last case I was called in, well let's just say it was another capital murder case. (yes we had a lot of murder in my small town). I got out of the case for knowing way too many people, and the judge was very thankful that I didn't say anything further at the time I was explaining). It is a small world when only a few months prior you get called in the middle of the night to answer a page to the hospital to care for a very distraught family, and then only to see them again as you exit the court room. I am still looking back at this and seeing how God is in the midst of it. As a chaplain, I see those who are victims. This time I got to see the one that inflicted the suffering of so many. I am still parsing that out.

I am grateful for your willingness to enter into this as service to God. I'm reminded of "whatever you do to the least of these..." There is so much injustice in this system that many are convicted without being seen as human by the judge or jury, let alone someone having compassion for everyone in the room.

I've been called to jury duty many times in St. Louis. Because I am a Quaker, I always stand out right in the beginning since we don't take oaths and the judge has to ask me separately to "affirm my commitement to telling the truth." Unfortunately, this singles me out as a "Religious trouble maker" and I never get chosen.

In fact one time the prosecutor became quite angry and singled me out for questioning. The judge had to intervene and remind her of her purpose. I met some wonderful Sisters of St. Joseph that day along with a Civil Rights professor. In the hall over lunch we were talking about theology, justice and compassion and before we knew it half the jury pool of mixed backgrounds was sitting with us, all exchanging ideas and concerns, extending invitations to worship. It was really a beautiful thing.

Unfortunately, or fortunately it sparked so many ideas and challenges to the system that jury selection for that particular trial took 3 days. But we had some great conversations over the breaks.

I will be holding you in the Light and thank you for your faithful service.
Peace,
Friendly Presence.

As an attorney here in SA, I could only wish that all my potential jurors took the duty as seriously as you do.
Thank you.
(Also, if you don't mind, I'm going to repost this in my LJ. I have some lawyer friends who could really use it.)

Wow, as I write this, I'm on a break,waiting to reenter the pool of potential jurors.

I was chosen yesterday for a trial, which I can talk about now. The defendant was charged with stalking, two counts of aggravated assault, and child cruelty. Like you, the enormity of the responsibility before me really hit home. I made sure I got a really good night's sleep, and I also prayed to God, that he guide me and that he use me to provide His justice, whatever that may be.

This morning, after waiting in the jury room for an hour before the trial was to begin, the judge came in and told us that a plea bargain had been struck. I was filled, partly with relief, partly with disappointment (I was curious to see and participate in the process). Knowing that our presence and readiness to try the defendant was a factor in the plea bargain, I don't feel our time was wasted at all.

This morning, a man who admitted to doing some very bad things went away for a long time. I pray that God use his time in prison to reach him, heal him, and renew him. I also pray that the victims find some peace and healing in the wake of this.

RLP, you are in my prayers as well. I think I can relate to your feelings, and God will work in you for His purposes.

Chris the Juror

As a lawyer who has grown weary of dishonest, angry and spiteful jurors, I can't thank you enough for this. Jury duty is a small but important thing we are called upon to do for our communities. I wish more people could just suck it up and appreciate the value of the role they are playing.

Besides Texas, how many states still have the death penalty?
Canada has abolished that.

Hoping and praying for you, G.
Don in Stratford Ont.

I am sure that this will be a rich and rewarding experience for you. I look forward to reading about it in the near future.

Kevin aka islandpastor

"Unfortunately, in the future justice was not only blind, but had also become rather retarded..."

I've been called for jury duty twice, but never selected. The first time, I was in a pool for a mob trial and was willing to chew off a limb to avoid serving. Fortunately, I was not selected, and was told later that everyone with an Italian surname was dismissed. The second time, I was almost selected and I was eager to serve. Unfortunately, I fell down a flight of stairs at the courthouse and sprained my ankle. They couldn't send me home fast enough.

That was years ago, and I hadn't thought about it since, but if I get called up again, I will remember this and serve with honor. Thanks for putting it in perspective, RLP. I'll keep you in my prayers.
-Lisa

good. loving mercy and loving justly seems to be tied in somewhere there...
you can write in your head in the meantime. :)
paul

Good attitude Gordon. Good luck.

Having read what you've got to do, I'm kind of glad now that I got one of the most boring trials imaginable: a dispute between the city of San Francisco and a landlord it rented from over HVAC usage. Yes, I got the air conditioning trial. I've never even thought twice about whether my vote (it was a civil case, so the decision doesn't have to be unanimous) was incorrect.

Another lawyer here just wanting to say "thanks" for taking this seriously. When you serve on a jury, you apply the law to a specific factual situation in order to decide what justice is for the people involved. It is an incredible and difficult task and to take it seriously is to honor those whose lives will forever be altered by your decision.

My jury experience was about a woman accusing a man of date-rape. He had picked her up in a bar, she went home with him, even to his bedroom. But then she said, "No." He threatened to hurt or kill her if she didn't. He claimed it was consensual. Initially, several on the panel said she went too far to have the right to say no. By the end, they had all realized that she was pretty stupid, but that being stupid was no crime, nor did it relinquish her right to say no. We came to a guilty verdict. After the trial, the judge told us he was already serving time for another similar case - a fact that could not be made known to us in this trial. We were glad for the verdict we gave.

Like voting, it is one of those priviledges we seem to take for granted.

Curt in KC

We don't have the death penalty (I think that's what you meant) here in Europe and I'm glad - because it must be a hard thing to determine.

God called you and you answered. This will be part of your hearing "Well done good and faithful servant" at the pearly gates (or however it is really)

blessings
blessings as you serve God - and your community- this way.

God bless you and keep you, Gordon. I don't envy you the responsibility, but I'm glad they have someone like you on the panel.

I don't understand the whole bit about not judging--Israel was LED by judges for a while, after all, and that was without the benefit of a jury of one's peers. ;)

--textjunkie

Ok, the comment about 'judge not' was me, and it's obviously generated some discussion. Let me clarify: it isn't the church that says priests shouldn't be jurors. Out-of-context verses are thrown at us, out of a deeply held fear of clergy in Australia which goes way back to our beginnings as a penal colony.

Clergy back then were representatives of the authority of mother England. They were directly involved not only in judging but in administering justice. The first clergymen in Australia were called 'flogging parsons', for good reason! It was usually the troublemakers of the English church scene that got sent to the colonies, and once they arrived here, there was no-one to keep them accountable. Their positions were abused, and so were poor settlers, newly freed convicts, and Australia's Indigenous people. 21st Century Aussie clergy bear the weight of our society's lack of faith in the church in general and clergy in particular. It's painful and difficult but pretty understandable, given the history.

Australia is also much more aware of itself as a multi-faith community than America seems to be. It might make sense for a dispute between Christians to come before their church elders, just as a dispute between Israelites might come before their Judges, but clergy are not acknowledged as leaders or judges in the wider Australian community.

We are learning instead to take up the role of peacemaker within the justice system - to act as advocates for victims of crime, suspects, and convicted criminals; to educate the community about preventative measures; and to train as mediators for processes of restorative justice. This to me seems a much more positive response to our cultural situation than forcing the issue of jury duty.

RLP,
If I was accused of a crime, I'd want you on my jury. You have the proper propensity to question authority. Good luck.
Geodog

Prayers for you Gordon - Here in Ireland clergy are automatically excluded from Jury duty so not something I have ever had to consider.
Not sure why but its got me thinking.
Stephen (PaddyAnglican)