It is three o'clock in the morning and you receive a knock on your door. Slowly but surely you stumble out of bed, down the stairs, and to the front foyer. The second the door opens a flash light is shined into your eyes and you are asked to identify yourself. The moment after you let the words slip from your mouth, you feel the cold steel handcuffs around your wrists. It all happens so fast and you barely here the words "You have been arrested for the murder of Jane Doe. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as the have been read to you? " You slowly nod your head although you really do not understand what is happening- you did not kill ˜Jane Doe' nor have you killed anyone in your life. This is just a huge misunderstanding. .
It is now six months later and you are sitting beside your lawyer. You look around the court room and see disgusted faces of the public, the court reporter that takes notes of everything ever said, the family of the victim in tears, the judge, and lastly the jury. These twelve people look miserable and you realize you're the reason why. You are the reason they all had to meet today and you are the person they are deciding the verdict for. You are already loathed by all twelve of these people because you are taking away their time and money not mention the fact they are here for a murder case. You remember the one time you had to serve on jury duty and cringe. You have always hated the idea of juries and for three reasons alone- most of the time they know nothing about law, they are human beings and base the verdict on feelings not facts, and finally they are expensive and not to comment on the fact that it is time consuming.
For those who do not know " a jury are a group of people (typically twelve in number) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court.
