tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post8473419624340207902..comments2023-07-24T11:24:13.161-04:00Comments on ADVENTURES IN THE BALLPARK: Seeking Justice (part 2)Marianne (Mare) Baker Ballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03663143060069193124noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-17449370078482219282012-12-16T11:34:51.630-05:002012-12-16T11:34:51.630-05:00thanks for all the insightful comments. I would s...thanks for all the insightful comments. I would serve on a jury again, but I'd go in understanding more. In spite of the flaws of the system, I think everyone should serve if possible. How else do we know how screwy things are - and how improvements can be made? I've since heard many times now that, despite its imperfections, we still have the best system in the world. I'm grateful for that. Marianne (Mare) Baker Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03663143060069193124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-41558022981486157632012-12-16T09:26:53.607-05:002012-12-16T09:26:53.607-05:00I know enough to realize I would never want to be ...I know enough to realize I would never want to be on a jury. Some people view the cops and the law as enemies. They feel as long as no one was hurt, it didn't matter if the guy drove drunk and will fight to get him off. But if no one gets punished until they kill someone, what's the deterrent? <br /><br />I guess you can hope this young man really is as good a person as the defense pointed out and learned his lesson. If he never does drive drunk again, maybe it's better for society that he stayed out of jail and kept working, right? (But only IF he does this. If instead, he causes a tragic accident, those two NGs will have to live with themselves.)Cindy Dwyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13143279929486216901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-32554197162134738152012-12-15T23:22:28.009-05:002012-12-15T23:22:28.009-05:00My husband has long told me that truth and justice...My husband has long told me that truth and justice are entirely two separate things in our court system. As a retired police officer he has seen it far too much. I don't know how he managed not to get so discouraged he couldn't perform his job. But, as he says this system, even as flawed as it, is still better than other methods. Cecilia Marie Pulliamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08155201232666678307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-48527916816108874892012-12-15T16:32:47.076-05:002012-12-15T16:32:47.076-05:00How incredibly discouraging and disillusioning. Ap...How incredibly discouraging and disillusioning. Apparently truth and justice have nothing to do with each other.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05512195350501287945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-90410114992778619382012-12-13T11:49:44.988-05:002012-12-13T11:49:44.988-05:00Wow. That's just unbelievable, and yet, it mak...Wow. That's just unbelievable, and yet, it makes sense too. <br /><br />I'm sorry though, that the DUI guy didn't get the judgement he deserved, as he'd been a danger to everyone on the road with him the moment he got into that car drunk. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-90953729989979010532012-12-12T21:25:44.148-05:002012-12-12T21:25:44.148-05:00Mare! hi!
i am sorry, i read this in the wrong ...Mare! hi! <br /><br />i am sorry, i read this in the wrong order or something and now read it correctly. it was a very interesting read. thank you. <br /><br />i've served on jury duty once and and have been selected for duty but didn't serve 3 other times. the case i served on was also a DUI. the poor kid was even somewhat drunk in the courtroom. bammm, guilty. it wasn't whether he was drunk or not, it was; was he actually the driver because the cops said he must have switched places with the passenger before the policeman got to the window of the car. all testified he was driving when he left the party drunk. <br /><br />your case was stuck on the breathalyzer as being valid. i wish the judge could have been more specific in her directions during the trial, while you were deliberating. that is odd to me that she couldn't have been that specific earlier. hmmmm, don't feel dumb. you stood your ground and it didn't make a difference. but, perhaps it did? perhaps he was a good kid and needed a break. i know a very good kid that was sent to prison for check forgery, that he did to help out his parents, etc. and while in prison he was killed by the tougher types. seriously, how sad? yes! what if this kid was similar? you will never know. somehow i feel your prayer was answered in the affirmative. you did your part, the jury was locked and he will never be tried for that charge ever again,'that specific charge'. he may screw up again, but maybe not. hopefully and only hopefully, he will think next time because he did get a second chance. <br /><br />i am proud to call you my friend!<br />love, renaerenae https://www.blogger.com/profile/03691374381873932228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-45151108419251472532012-12-11T23:21:00.654-05:002012-12-11T23:21:00.654-05:00I am totally and thoroughly gobsmacked!! I have n...I am totally and thoroughly gobsmacked!! I have never served on a jury and this was just bizarre to me. Unsettling is too insignificant a word for it. It blows my mind! What is the point of having laws at all then? Maybe the judge was just burnt out or something. This doesn't even seem to make any sense to me. I am baffled.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02043285884495492598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-23058853392042649332012-12-11T07:38:59.488-05:002012-12-11T07:38:59.488-05:00I am stunned. I am so stunned, I think I will for...I am stunned. I am so stunned, I think I will forward your two posts to a family member who is a lawyer.<br /><br />As I read your posts, what occurred to me was this ...<br /><br />The lawyers and the judge are working on one level - a level where training as a lawyer weighs heavily and their thinking is bent in that direction. The jury is on another level, where there is no law training ... just common sense! Common sense says this young man is guilty - and if he had killed someone even on his first time driving drunk - it would have been a tragedy. And he would have paid some price I would hope.<br /><br />That didn't happen fortunately, but there should be consequences for not following the law. Sure, you can oppose the law, but hold up a sign stating that you do, get a petition going, put it up for a vote ... but don't put others at risk because you don't agree with the stop sign or in this case, drinking and driving.<br /><br />Guess I am thinking like a citizen - not a lawyer.<br /><br />What a bad experience.<br /><br />I will say this. The last words from our judge years ago resonated with me. Our legal system is faulty and it makes mistakes, but it is the best system there is right now. Guess that is true. It doesn't always turn out right.Retired Knitterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13662288640032813770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-26394406227149104132012-12-10T21:35:15.123-05:002012-12-10T21:35:15.123-05:00Well I know how to get out of jury duty now. I'...Well I know how to get out of jury duty now. I'll just ask all kinds of questions about how to interpret the laws we are going to be discussing. Tamera Brosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10936689822460368906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-64934940326351799972012-12-10T17:51:32.606-05:002012-12-10T17:51:32.606-05:00It is not until a person has been on a jury that t...It is not until a person has been on a jury that they truly get to understand the ins and outs of it and I have always thought it would be an eye opening experience......Jo-Anne's Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11418152399382818709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-8566148488914526512012-12-10T11:16:22.412-05:002012-12-10T11:16:22.412-05:00dear Mare! thank you! your comment about the '...dear Mare! thank you! your comment about the 'getting' was in my head all weekend, esp while shopping at the new jcp and seeing all the glitz and glam and no body smiling. hmmmm.renae https://www.blogger.com/profile/03691374381873932228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-69603268086098436542012-12-10T10:08:43.739-05:002012-12-10T10:08:43.739-05:00Sad ... very sad. I just pray that the drinker ne...Sad ... very sad. I just pray that the drinker never drinks, drives and hurts anyone ...Jerraleahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04303751802364926617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-85800959862169700252012-12-10T06:54:01.086-05:002012-12-10T06:54:01.086-05:00That is unsettling I was have been sad and equally...That is unsettling I was have been sad and equally pissed off. Wow! So really you CAN be not guilty and have a inexperienced lawyer and then be screwed. And you can be guilty and have a savvy lawyer that can get your out of it. That really really stinks. Thanks for the lesson. I never want jury duty. Knocking on wood....Kenya G. Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03901164070843042029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-61870740600744179272012-12-10T00:22:14.138-05:002012-12-10T00:22:14.138-05:00It is unsettling indeed. I do hope like someone el...It is unsettling indeed. I do hope like someone else said that the guy realized the got a "freebie" here and doesn't drink and drive again; the next time he might not be so lucky and might end up dead or killing someone else. <br /><br />I guess this experience you had goes with why a lot of defendants plead not guilty when without a doubt they are guilty of their crimes (like murder when they are caught with the murder weapon, etc). They are hoping interpretations of the law will go in their favor I would imagine.<br /><br />That in itself is sad that people won't admit guilt for a wrong doing they did. <br /><br />makes you hope you don't get called for jury duty any time soon<br /><br />bettybettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06323135450742337670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-6582146899877718992012-12-10T00:15:56.660-05:002012-12-10T00:15:56.660-05:00I went back and read the first part. It doesn'...I went back and read the first part. It doesn't really surprise me. In many cases, what it seems to come down to is who has the better lawyer.<br />But, the validity of the breathalyzer does answer a few things for me. Many times in Iowa, they will take you to the station and draw blood.<br />I guess too many times, the results were questioned.<br />Once my sister was taken in without a breathalyzer because the cop thought she was impaired. She wasn't, just tired from having to work all night. Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15051904118383493849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-72554826536318206962012-12-09T23:48:38.529-05:002012-12-09T23:48:38.529-05:00Definitely unsettling. What an eye-opener for me....Definitely unsettling. What an eye-opener for me. Thanks for sharing and I hope I'll be able to learn from your experience and go in as a jurist with that in mind, if need be.Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14289590616497815887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-27816172762613533822012-12-09T23:45:05.818-05:002012-12-09T23:45:05.818-05:00If it makes you feel any better, my husband and I ...If it makes you feel any better, my husband and I have both served jury duty multiple times, and have never encountered a situation like the one you've described. I'm glad, because I definitely would have found it to be very disturbing. Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-46715986846803598352012-12-09T22:16:32.143-05:002012-12-09T22:16:32.143-05:00Yes, I find that very unsettling—and sad.Yes, I find that very unsettling—and sad.Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272293468239097754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-558803316535001272012-12-09T21:53:42.227-05:002012-12-09T21:53:42.227-05:00Wow. I guess if I'm ever on trial, it's a...Wow. I guess if I'm ever on trial, it's always better to go with a jury. One crackpot is all it takes to get off anymore. Kinda sad. <br /><br />(P.S. Not that I'm planning any crimes at the moment).Mariannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509329937576764550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-45613284165734522692012-12-09T20:59:40.245-05:002012-12-09T20:59:40.245-05:00It is unsettling to have a judge spell it out like...It is unsettling to have a judge spell it out like that, but like Sandie, I'm not surprised. In my opinion, the Supreme Court has been setting aside absolutes for quite some time so why not the lower courts.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316595488903619354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-33231449673036489562012-12-09T20:17:11.478-05:002012-12-09T20:17:11.478-05:00This is very unsettling to me - but I am not surpr...This is very unsettling to me - but I am not surprised! sandieChatty Cronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02232040517217024681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-15289553972909937362012-12-09T19:55:42.477-05:002012-12-09T19:55:42.477-05:00What's really unsettling to me is that in MA, ...What's really unsettling to me is that in MA, the probate judges have no one to oversee what they rule. So when a judge makes a bad call regarding placement of a child, or YEARS of bad calls putting children at risk, there's not a damn thing anyone can do about it.<br /><br />As far as your case, my fear is that he has now gotten away with a DUI. Which means he will likely repeat the offence, and sadly the next trial won't be a licence suspension and a fine.Julihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10097214923216967086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-70418249644965752682012-12-09T19:25:56.454-05:002012-12-09T19:25:56.454-05:00Wow! Yes, I'm very disillusioned and pretty f...Wow! Yes, I'm very disillusioned and pretty frustrated. I can't imagine how you and the other 3 felt after spending all that time trying to do the right thing.Marihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06289456727508305342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606494570434205373.post-66907275873914661582012-12-09T19:12:17.985-05:002012-12-09T19:12:17.985-05:00What a travesty of justice.I am so sorry that the ...What a travesty of justice.I am so sorry that the system didn't work for you. It shouldn't be that way.<br /><br />I do hope and pray that young man realized he just got the chance of his life and never drinks and drives again. <br /><br />And i must admit to feeling a bit of anger and disappointment at the two who seemed to pervert our system with their own personal prejudice. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10204165708189660644noreply@blogger.com