Dear Defendant in Court Today:
You have the right to be presumed “innocent until proven guilty.” You may indeed be innocent. It’s entirely possible.
But you do not want me on your jury.
As soon as I heard the first charge against you — child molestation — I mentally declared you a creep and a criminal. I’ll bet other potential jurors thought the same thing.
But no one said a word when the district attorney asked if anyone would have difficulty maintaining an open mind. Perhaps it was the fear of piping up in a deathly quiet courtroom full of people.
The D.A. revealed more details of the case and I remembered news coverage. When he asked if anyone remembered this coverage, I stood up.
When he asked if I could remain impartial, I said I’d try.
Your attorney asked the same question, then wanted me to elaborate. I had to be honest. You’ll remember that I said, “I have two kids. My husband and I always talk about the fact that if someone did something to those kids, we’d be in court ourselves.” Of course I meant jail first for attacking the attacker.
Was I really the only one who felt this way? Your attorney seemed shocked.
Sorry, dude. You have the right to an impartial jury. Yet, I had already beaten you to a pulp in my mind.
Your attorney was wise to excuse me.
Hoping for justice in whatever form that takes,
Beth
Observe and report 