To: ManyMoose who wrote (669 ) 8/30/2005 5:58:17 AM From: JDN Read Replies (1) | Respond to Years ago I was on a very serious trial as a juror. It was a murder trial involving three Hispanics. An older man and two younger men. Several people were murdered including two DEA agents, one DURING the trial and a potential witness before his murder. Well, after the case was heard and we retired to determine the guilt a problem developed. We ALL agreed the two younger men were guilty but the only evidence presented against the older man was that the machine gun was found in his house. He denied any guilt nor any knowledge it was there. I believed him cause I know Hispanics are very communal and it is not unusual for them to go into one anothers home (none of these people were unknown to one another). So, we initially came back with a guilty verdict for two and innocent for the third. the judge REFUSED to accept the verdict, he said we MUST find all three either innocent or guilty. Well, to shorten this long story, I was the LAST PERSON to aquiesence to the judge. I held out for innocent (potentially forcing a hung jury) for three weeks. Every one was hollering at me as they all, including me, had jobs to get back too. Finally, after 3 weeks I gave up and agreed to vote all three guilty. (the judge wouldnt accept a hung jury we tried 3 times to get him to). AFTER the trial the judge called us into his quarters and told us THE WHOLE TRUTH. Turns out I was wrong, ALL THREE WERE GUILTY but the evidence that would have cinched it for the third man couldnt be introduced for some reason which I have since forgotten. The judge knew it but we didnt. Just shows you, a judge can influence the outcome of the trial if he believes he should. jdn
