The Verdict is In

For those that knew about my jury duty this past week let me just cut to the chase - we did not find him guilty of attempted murder.

For everyone else I will share a few more details.  I've been serving on a jury for a criminal case for the past 3 days.  In consideration of some of my younger readers, let me just say that this was a twisted case involving drugs, S&M, and a woman nearly dying of severe burns to her upper body.  

The day after I returned from helping Dave and Daisy I realized that I had missed a couple days of my jury duty assignment.  I called in Tuesday night and found that I needed to report for jury selection the following morning.  I was the first potential juror they called to the jury box and somehow I ended up as one of the final jurors despite trying to get out of the trial given the fact that I have 2 brothers that work in law enforcement (can't blame a girl for trying).

My heart has been heavy these last couple days.  The trial was mentally and emotionally exhausting.  My mind has been polluted with horrid images, anguishing sounds from 911 tapes, and an education in S&M that I really could have done without in this life.  The jury deliberations that lasted until past 7:00 tonight were stressful and full of confrontations.  I hate confrontation and will usually avoid it but when backed into a corner I will "come out swinging".  I was backed into a corner a time or two in the jury room tonight.  But it was a good thing that we fought it out because at one point we sent some questions to the judge seeking clarification and he brought us back into the courtroom to tell us they found an error in the wording of the charges as a result of our questions.  We were shocked.  We almost selected the incorrect criminal charge for this man based on erroneous verbage in our jury charge papers.  I literally felt sick to my stomach.  Still do in fact.

But this uncomfortable experience is behind me now ... and I hope to sleep well tonight.  

We had to reschedule Brynn's birthday party for tomorrow afternoon since I was afraid the deliberations would run into the evening tonight.  So I need to process the shocking material that has been introduced into my mind the last 3 days and move on.  Time to switch gears back to Mommy mode.  And come Monday morning, I need to GET BACK TO WORK!!!

Tonight I am thankful for my simple, stable, drug-free, SANE life.