Yesterday was a full day of emotions, long waits, and deliberation. I was, for the first time on this panel, chosen to sit on a jury for a one day trial. Oddly enough, I love sitting on a jury. I love watching the ins and outs of the court, the process that goes into finding evidence and deliberating guilty or not guilty. Yesterday, however, wasn’t the best experience I have had as a jury panel member.

This particular case was an “Aggravated Assault with a Deadly weapon.” However, the victim was a special needs person. The odds of ME getting this particular trial have to be slim to none. But there I was, face to face with a reality that I was not ready to participate in. Not mentioning anything about a special needs victim in the jury selection process, I had no idea what I was just thrown into. Out of nowhere the State attorney presented to the jury that we needed to understand the victim was a special needs person and may or may not have a hard time answering questions throughout the day…the world stopped around me. My palms started to get sweaty, my heart was racing like I had just run a marathon, my face turned red, and I was smack dab in the center of the jury box with nowhere to run.

In the back of my mind I just kept thinking, I must be dreaming right? This is all a dream? How could I be the one stuck in the middle of a trial including a special needs person? Once the victim finally took his seat in the witness box, I tried to force myself not to be bias and do the job I was called to do. We listened to his testimony and a few others including an officer.

Joe (we will call him Joe) lives on his own and works to pay for rent and bills. He met “defendant” (not even worth giving a name) and became friends with him. Joe eventually invited the defendant to rent a bedroom from his house. Joe does not understand bank accounts and money, so he had been giving the defendant cash to pay his utility bills while he was at work. After four months of not paying rent and taking Joe’s money that was supposed to pay the utility bills…Joe confronted him. The defendant then blew his top and went to his room to get a gun. He then pulled a sawed off shotgun on Joe saying that he was going to shoot him.

Joe then left his own home called his boss who then took him straight to the DA’s office to file a report. This is the shortened version.

Once the entire jury went back for deliberations I found myself wanting to jump up and speak my voice. I thought the defendant was trash and deserved to be put away for life for trying to take advantage of this poor man! However, I contained my rage and kept quiet, anxious to see what everyone else thought about the case. Inevitably the jury found the defendant GUILTY! While, still a long hard exhausting day...I almost felt relieved.

I also wanted to say a short THANKS for everyone’s nice comments. This week for no concrete reason, has just been a hard week. They have gotten farther and farther apart…but I do still have bad days. Your comments and sweet notes were all instant pickmeups! I love each and every one of you in different ways. Thanks for your support and comfort.

LOVE LOVE LOVE