Jury Duty (Sexual Assult on a Child)

Hello all, I wanted to just write this down to get it out, read if you like.

Yesterday, I was called to Jury Duty. Yeah, yeah...I know big deal right?

What would you do if the jury you were called for involved the Rape of a 6 year old Girl by a person in position of authority? (Thats right SIX)

I had to recuse (Sp?) myself from the jury. I have some issues with anxiety/panic anyhow, but sitting in the jury box while they were questioning us prospecetive jurors had me in complete horror. One of the questions posed to us potential jurors was "Could you handle listening to a 7 year old testify about how it felt when she was vaginally penetrated by a 33 year old?".

I almost puked, really. I just had to get the F*$K out of that courtroom as quickly as possible. I raised my hand. talked to the judge (In the midst of a panic attack) and was dismissed. I am still a bit "Off" today.

Out of 60 prospective jurors 30 or so had to leave before me, for various reasons, some were victims of abuse, some were or had been accused, or many just like me, could not handle the subject matter. Overall I was shocked at how many people, my peers, had been involved in this kind of thing. Virtually every single woman, and some men were in tears just listenting to the case, very powerful stuff.

I have done jury service before and found it quite rewarding and educational. I feel bad that I could not do it. Now I have this guilt, that maybe, by me leaving, that this little girl (Or possibly innocent man) may not find justice.

How would you react?

I work in a juvenile detention center, and over 70% of the inmates assigned there have suffered sexual abuse as a young child. Some of them have been abused by parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, teachers, priests, etc.
They come from all walks of life, all races, all stratas of economic abilities; I work in a unit comprised of male clients, so it doesn't matter to a sick s.o.b. if it's a female or a male.
I know it must have been tough for you, but you have to be stronger and realize you have to sit thru an uncomfortable experience listening to what this child, this victim, went through. That poor kid had to live through it and has to deal with it every day for the rest of her life.
You owe it to her, to hear what happened, make a decision, and stand up for her rights, because no one was there to help her when that animal was raping her.
I feel for you, bro. I honestly do. But we, as citizens, are called on to perform our sacred duty as a juror, to ensure justice be done for the weak and innocent.

Not sure I know what I would do.

I honestly have no idea unless I was put into that situation. I have never been abused so I feel rather ambivalent about it.

I would run home, and post some pics of my penis.

I know, that is why I feel so shitty about leaving. I really wanted to stay and go through the trial, my body just would not let me. I was severly bullied as a young kid (6-10 years old) by some older kids (12-16yo) and I just started re-living that stuff. I can't imagne what she went through though. Sexual abuse is a mystery to me.

I suppose at the same time, I was looking at the defendant as he was smiling and trying to woo all of us jurors by smiling, waving and batting his eyes at us(Oh poor inocent me) I wanted to crucify him on the spot. He was a charming, relatively attractive, well dressed and a pastor. Guilty until proven innocent in my mind, and prejudice is not acceptable as a juror.

The other jurys I served on were for attempted murder, and an age discriminaton case, that was a cake walk.

It is going to bug the heck out of me until the trial is finished on Friday. I really want to know the outcome.

hahaha. you said Outcome.

(Mother of two beautiful young daughters, myself a sex crime victim)
There would be NO trial for anyone who touches my kids or even looks at them wrong. Enough said.

I have never been called for jury duty. I don't think they would pick me. I know innocent until proven guilty but for the most part I would just want the bastard fried.

About 25% of the jurors flat out said the same thing. That there was no way in hell that this guy would get a fair trial if they were on the jury.

Well said, HazelGod.

I agree, it would not be pleasant, but if called to be a juror on this case (or any, for that matter), for the time I held that responsibility, I would feel honor-bound and ethically required to see it through to its conclusion. I would take the whole thing very seriously, but would not prejudge the defendant.

Until I was convinced that he was guilty, I would assume he was innocent. Wrongful accusations and convictions aren't just unheard of, they are frighteningly common.

So, my two primary considerations would be ensure that an innocent man does not go to prison, and ensure that a victimized child does not go unavenged.

I would be horrified, too. I would get kicked off because the defense would quickly figure out that I had already made my decision.
I wonder if the preacher would've had "character witnesses" testify to how he is such a "godly" man?
I also wonder if eventually dozens more victims will be discovered. Usually creeps like him have been doing this a long, long time without having to pay the price.
When the Pope or other catholic church officials have the audacity to make any pronouncements about moral issues of the day it makes me sick. I would bet $100 that at this very moment somewhere in the US they are doing all they can to protect a priest, bishop, etc.

I totally agree, I think that is why I am so pissed at myslef for not honoring that duty.

Your body was telling you something and you were right to honor it. Don't feel guilty for being unable to stay. There would come a time when you would hear not only the girl's testimony but that of medical professionals and perhaps even have to view medical evidence.

Had you lost it in the courtroom during a trial there could have been severe consequences including your replacement by an alternate or even, God forbid, a mistrial. To be on a jury, you need to be as impartial as possible to serve the function of the jury. You're not serving the little girl nor the judge nor the defendant. You're serving that blindfolded woman with the scales. It's noble that you want to do the right thing by staying on, but I think you did the truly right thing and recused yourself. Even if your objective mind doesn't believe it was the right thing, your subconscious mind did and let you know via physical symptoms.

It takes a strong man to step back and know what he can and cannot do. You did the right thing in the end.