Georgia's Jury Duty, Part 1

Georgia received a questionnaire from the Clerk of the Superior Court in Yuma late last year to verify her eligibility for Jury Duty. After filling out a questionnaire online, she crossed her fingers. She didn’t have long to wait, a Summons arrived in our mailbox in early January.

The next week she called the clerk’s office hoping to avoid or postpone this duty since she had planned on being in Phoenix for a class at that same time. Fortunately the clerk was very understanding, and told Georgia that they would just put her name back in the list for potential summons at another time.

At the end of March another Summons arrived in the mail, with instructions to appear for Jury Duty on April 12^th. Since she didn’t have any conflicts this time, she showed up at the court house at the appropriate date and time. Two trials were empanelling juries on the same day, so the waiting room was rather full. After a bit of a wait Georgia’s group was taken up to the courtroom.

At the start 19 people were assigned by lots to sit as jurors or alternates. The judge and lawyers all had the opportunity to ask the potential jury questions like was anyone acquainted with any of the plaintiff or lawyers? Did anyone have any motor vehicle accidents in the past? Some people had hardships that would prevent them from serving the potential length of a trial. Others reported that they could not judge the matter fairly.

As Georgia learned later on, the court had scheduled two days for the plaintiff’s lawyer to present the case. However, the prospective jurors were warned that the trial could last as many as 5 court days. (Trials are not conducted on Mondays, allowing the court to do other “stuff” those days.)

After waiting a while during these questions Georgia thought she might not have to serve, but it was not to be. Her name was pulled out of the proverbial hat, and presto, she was one of the 19 potential jurors. After lunch and final questioning to excuse jurors, the judge excused all potential jurors to wait in another location. At that time the lawyers were able to say which jurors they wanted excused (for whatever reason). When the 19 potential jurors returned to the courtroom the judge announced which 9 people would be seated as jury and alternate, and, by lot, assigned to a seat. Since apparently neither lawyer objected, Georgia was now on the jury.

Through the presentation of arguments that day and the next, there were all sorts of interruptions. In the state of Arizona the jury is allowed to submit questions to the judge which would be asked of the witnesses. During the trial the jury, including our own jurist, submitted several questions. One of Georgia’s questions even got asked. The other apparently was not permitted, or one of the lawyers had an objection to it.

What did Georgia think of the whole matter? What did the jury decide? Please stay tuned!