I just came from my first jury duty. Still can't stop thinking about it. The case was about medical malpractice and was pretty complex with almost dozen of depositions taken by all sides. It took 5.5 days to present the case and 1.5 days for jury deliberation. This case required ability to think analytically. However plaintiff side with a guy who was injured emphasized emotional part throughout the case. Out of the 12 jurors (13th was taken into a custody on a second day because on a first day he was 30 minutes late and felt asleep during the hearing and on a second day came 40 minutes late) there were four who were not thinking clearly and based their decision on emotions. They could not explain their position but were on plaintiff side because of "poor guy was in pain". There were tears too.

Here is the scary part. There was one gentleman among us who served as a juror many times due his age. Since he and I were traveling on Marta together he said it was the first case in his experience he saw ANY analytical thinking among jurors. God forbid if I ever be judged by a jury I have very little confidence in justice right now.

 

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so, were you part in "raising medical costs" ?

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- Независимость - это когда в 20-й раз наступаешь на одни и те же грабли, а русские уже ни при чем....

Most people capable of "analytic thinking" find ways to get out of jury duty. 

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Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when her mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce

KGBMan:

so, were you part in "raising medical costs" ?

I'd say opposite. I saved you a few pennies ;)

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Bagel Roll:

Most people capable of "analytic thinking" find ways to get out of jury duty. 

I was not trying to. I was curious and at the end learned a lot. It was very positive experience. Now I can consult doctors on compartment syndrome and how to perform calf implant surgery :)

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So you'd do it again?  Masochist! 

Just kidding.  I've gotten out of it for legitimate reasons in the past, but I think I'd do it too, to see what it's all about...  besides, it is our constitutional duty.  I don't think I'd get picked though...  Don't they try to weed out those who tend to be biased?     Tell me more about the "interview/juror selection process."

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Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when her mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce

things like medical malpractice is never going to get a fair jury - its a situation of big money versus emotion.  I confess, I'd be inclined to side against big money even if its not 100% their fault.  If they can afford to *** up x% of the time, while making billions,  they can afford to pay for any time they allow a questionable case even to occur in the first place.

I guess i'd say this in the interview and not be picked, but who is this honest in those things :)

I think in criminal justice, on the other hand, innocent defendants get a much more fair shake from juries, possibly best in the world.

 

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"The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money" -Margaret Thatcher

Egor:

I think in criminal justice, on the other hand, innocent defendants get a much more fair shake from juries, possibly best in the world.

Maybe it's best in the world, but the outcome still depends on who has the biggest wallent, and therefore best lawyer...  How many wrongly accused people are being taken out of jails now, that we have newer, better methods to examine evidence?

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Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when her mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce

"best in the world" is not saying much at all, i agree.  But if i am wrongly accused, I'd much rather go with this justice system, possibly some western european one, or Australia.  Those are my best shot.  As if anyone was asking me

We are very likely to acquit guilty people though, that's the drawback of this, but I am looking from the standpoint of the wrongly accused.

By the way, prosecution in criminal cases is always by the state, so money is not a factor on that side unless the case becomes very public.  Money is still a factor on the defense, but even as a poor homeless guy, comparing apples to apples, better here than anywhere.

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"The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money" -Margaret Thatcher

Egor:

I think in criminal justice, on the other hand, innocent defendants get a much more fair shake from juries, possibly best in the world.

I am not sure about it anymore. You can get bunch of knuckleheads in a jury who can't think logically. What fair verdict can they deliver?

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What, a gut feeling is not good enough to convict someone?  

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Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when her mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce

_Sergey_:

Egor:

I think in criminal justice, on the other hand, innocent defendants get a much more fair shake from juries, possibly best in the world.

I am not sure about it anymore. You can get bunch of knuckleheads in a jury who can't think logically. What fair verdict can they deliver?

I agree with Egor in that I don't know of a better system, but, frankly, it terrifies me to think that my fate might be in the hands of the type of people I encounter daily.