Have you ever been called to jury duty? I have only been called twice, over thirty years apart. The first time I was in my mid-twenties and actively writing ground-breaking legislation to assist crime victims so of course the defense kicked me out right off the bat. I think I would be a good juror as I am able to sift through and distill information and judge whether someone is telling the truth by the evidence presented. Maybe not, perhaps I’ll never know.
Walking into a courtroom is impressive and awe-inspiring. When the judge walks into the room, it’s a spectacle. You want to be on your best behavior and ready to obey his/her commands. It’s a sobering experience and makes one think of the importance of civic duty, and the reality of right and wrong.
The second time I was out of options to delay, because I was right out of the hospital after a traumatic brain injury and still, as my husband says, “rebooting.” They probably wouldn’t have gotten the benefit of my full deductive reasoning in that trial, but in voir dire I was asked if I’d ever had a bad experience with the police. I had, a group of off-duty cops killed my friend in high school and never paid the price for their wanton cruelty to a seventeen year-old kid. So the prosecution kicked me off first chance they got, even though I have a healthy respect for police in general.
Some think that if one gets a “New York” jury or one from a significantly “red” state the verdict will go a particular way. That’s not the case. Even in a high profile trial, many questions are asked to assure that the juror will be impartial, even if they have been exposed to information about the defendant or alleged crime.
Donald Trump has reason to be afraid. His second E. Jean Carroll jury was mostly male, mostly white. They judged him by his actions, including his antics in the courtroom where his arrogance and lack of respect for judge and jury were evident. He will pay the price, a steep one.
Voir dire. Juries. Right and wrong. Justice. Weighty subjects. Regular people who know right from wrong, lies from truth, will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Think back to who brought you back in line when you strayed even a little. Parents, a stern aunt, grandparents leading from example, a teacher who saw potential in you even when you didn’t. Tell the truth. Don’t gossip or say bad things about your neighbor. Be as nice to the store clerk as you are to the manager. Always say please and thank you. Respect your elders. Don’t talk during Mass, and how did you lose your gloves? Quick, take one of your sister’s and hold it so it’ll look like you each have a pair.
We were motivated to stay on the straight and narrow to earn the respect of our parents, priests (I don’t know if anyone ever got on a nun’s good side. tee hee), teachers and friends. Motivation is individual, but as a lapsed Catholic, shame was a great motivator as a child. That and being the eldest sibling, always setting a good example. Man, that was a pain but I did it, because it was expected of me.
My two juror experiences are the only ones I’ve had with the justice system as a whole. I did get one speeding violation for trying to get to class on time, when in college, but that was just a small fine so I didn’t have to go to court or anything.
When it comes to the civil trials of Donald Trump, the wheels of justice grind slowly, but grind they do. Donald Trump has shown disdain for the American justice system and all who serve it, and seeks to bend the law to his will. In my mind, and as I’m not a juror I can say this, he has gotten away with wanton lawlessness for decades in the real estate business and in life. Karma has been waiting around the corner, but never this close, so he’s lashing out.
If he becomes president again, heaven forbid, he will inflict his hatred of American democracy further on we, the people. There are 91 criminal charges remaining to be litigated, and it’s not just money he’ll lose in these trials. He could lose his freedom for defrauding the American people and placing our national security at risk by illegally maintaining classified government documents.
Picture yourself in a courtroom as a potential juror about to be selected and being given the awesome responsibility of deeming a defendant innocent or guilty. It’ll bring you back to the childhood dinner table and learning right from wrong. School days, Bible study. It makes one think about what it means to be an American citizen, the duties it entails and the benefits it brings by virtue of our Constitution.
I see voting in that light, as well. Who we vote for matters. As a government policy analyst I joined a women’s political group. Come election time we interviewed local candidates. There was much debate over our biggest race, for state senate or assembly, I think. The male candidate checked the box on all our positions. The woman, few boxes and was actively anti- in several important aspects such as women’s bodily autonomy. The majority voted to endorse the woman simply because we were a women’s group. My colleague and I quit the group then and there. We found the policies more important than the gender of the candidate and made our stand. It’s those kinds of decisions that make me, me.
In this polarized political climate, courage has been in short supply, especially by elected officials (Congress, that’s you). In my humble opinion, if one has a moral compass and knows right from wrong, truth from lies, going along to get along from adoration or fear is no excuse.
Trump went down legally and owes nearly $90 million so far not because of partisan witch hunts or crooked judges. He lost fair and square because regular people who became jurors weighed the evidence and did their job. The more regular people who go back to basics, the moral compass that has steered them through life and work, and apply it to the voting booth, the more votes Trump will lose. That’s what he’s afraid of. That, and prison. And my policy position is that presidents are elected to do the people’s business, not use the nation’s highest office to absolve themselves of wrongdoing, make money on the side, and punish anyone who ever stood up to them.
My thoughts on a warming Wednesday morning, perhaps we’ll even see a bit of sun for a change! Lulu the dog would like that as she misses her buds. Cheers! Dee
Cooking with Dee 