Wow, that was close! 2 days in a jury pool.

[guitarbug]

Again, Wow! 2 days in a jury pool for a capital double murder case in Tarrant county! Boy was I sweating this one. I was also a little dissapointed at the same time though. I about dropped my pants when they told us that it was a double murder and a capital offence that was life in prison with no parol. I was also a little confused that the death penalty was not going to be an option. All I can say it was a grueling 2 days as they widdled down the exemptions and threw question after question at us about our thought on this kind of case. Anyone ever sat through something like this ? It was a wild exsperience to think someones life could have been in my hands.

[Davidtxs]

not two days but my ONE experience with JD was a couple of months ago an alllllllll dayyyy ordeal it was two counts of Sexual Assualt on a CHILD not a minor a child meaning under 13 they had problems finding 12 that would consider all the punishments options. Which were probabtion to LIFE. I felt i could listen to the case and render a verdict but in NOWAY could I consider probation. The defendant was about 40 and they would not disclose the childs age. I was glad i got out of that one

[jon_k]

Originally Posted by guitarbug

Again, Wow! 2 days in a jury pool for a capital double murder case in Tarrant county! Boy was I sweating this one. I was also a little dissapointed at the same time though. I about dropped my pants when they told us that it was a double murder and a capital offence that was life in prison with no parol. I was also a little confused that the death penalty was not going to be an option. All I can say it was a grueling 2 days as they widdled down the exemptions and threw question after question at us about our thought on this kind of case. Anyone ever sat through something like this ? It was a wild exsperience to think someones life could have been in my hands.

A friend of mine was on a case where a rapist had been accused of molestation of over 6 little girls. The last one that finally caught up to him, he killed her and her family. The only option was death penalty but no life without parole option was available.

I'm unsure who decides the punishment.

Any idea why some criminals are only optionable to the jury to vote for death penalty, and others are only optionable for life without parole?

[ratbert]

A couple of years before I moved from Kentucky to Texas I had jury duty for a month. In that month I was selected three times, a cocaine dealing charge, a rape, and a murder. It was quite an experience. Since I've been here, I have been summoned three times but never selected for a jury.

[Davidtxs]

the way the judge explained it to us was the Jury decided punishemnt and i think it depends on the charge that the def is charged with if life without parole is an option

[guitarbug]

Originally Posted by Davidtxs

the way the judge explained it to us was the Jury decided punishemnt and i think it depends on the charge that the def is charged with if life without parole is an option

That was the opposite in our case! They said the judge would decide the punishment. Still don't understand how a capital murder charge in Texas could not yield the death penalty ?

[Wes]

I've never been called, but to be honest I would love to serve. One of my favorite movies is, "12 Angry Men".

Did the law in Texas change within the last couple of years? I could have swore that there was no such thing in Texas as, "Life without parole". "Life" was the longest sentence that someone could get (which usually meant 40 years) short of the Death Penalty.

[guitarbug]

Originally Posted by Wes

I've never been called, but to be honest I would love to serve. One of my favorite movies is, "12 Angry Men".

Did the law in Texas change within the last couple of years? I could have swore that there was no such thing in Texas as, "Life without parole". "Life" was the longest sentence that someone could get (which usually meant 40 years) short of the Death Penalty.

Not sure about that. But maybe this was set up that way due to the double murder ? Who knows! That was a great movie BTW.

[CaptainTom]

I was foreman on a battery of a child case, trial was two days. I had to force the other jurors to spend at least a whole hour deliberating the verdict. The judge decided the punishment. Turned out to be 30 yrs.

[Wes]

Actually, the Death Penalty is only supposed to be available if someone kills someone else while in the comission of a felony. At least, I think that's how it goes.

[Mike G]

Texas death penalty laws

In Texas, the district courts have original jurisdiction for all criminal felony cases. If an individual is convicted of a capital felony, he or she may be subject to punishment by death, if the State sought such punishment. A capital felony is one in which an individual "intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual," under special circumstances. In particular, the:
# murder of a public safety officer, firefighter, or correctional employee;
# murder during the commission of specified felonies (kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated rape, arson);
# murder for remuneration; multiple murders;
# murder during prison escape; murder of a correctional officer;
# murder by a state prison inmate who is serving a life sentence for any of five offenses; [or]
# murder of an individual under six years of age1.

[LWimages]

The defendant might have bargained with the DA to get Death Penalty thrown out and have life sentence instead.

[guitarbug]

Here are a couple good tips for the next time someone recieves that little blue & white invitation, 1. Take a book or you're SB800 manual to read. 2. Be prepared to stay for minimum 2 days (In most calls they would tell the pools to fill out questionaire and come back the next day). 3. Wear comfortable shoes. 4. Quit smoking (now).! lol...

[AndrewCCM]

I was a juror on a trial that involved a gang member that was robbing multiple Subway sandwich shops around FTW at gunpoint (7 before he was cornered at motel and surrendered). It was a pretty emotional trial. Video evidence, pictures, etc.. Character witnesses both for and against (family members btw)...and victim responses to the suspect. We basically dealt with the sentencing since he plead guilty and turned down a plea with the DA. The defense tried to make it out that he plead guilty and turned himself in, so he should have some leniency... Also, they made it out that he had a hard life and that while he was a teenager, his dad was caught with another man which devastated him (he and several family members bursted out in tears, etc)...

Well after a week of testimony, that almost worked for him...

During deliberation, part of the jury voted for leniency and when it came around to "Mr. Smart-Arse", I said..."So... He is to get leniency because he turned himself in and admitted to it..etc.. Well.. Let's see, he robbed 7 stores within a couple of months, was caught red handed and surrounded at a motel and then he decides then to (turn himself in and admit to it)...Give me a break, it would have continued on and on until someone was either killed or he was taken out by another gang member."

Well.. that seemed to sway the pool... He got the maximum penalty. Life in prison, 10k fine.

When the verdict was read, the courtroom (mainly his family) went crazy screaming and crying and yelling at top of lungs, etc.. The judge had to buzz for additional security and they had to rush us out of there with protection (the judge actually drove a few of us to our cars).

We later found out that he had quite an extensive record that was not part of the trial and that he turned down a deal with the DA for 40yr sentence to go to trial. Well that backfired on him huh?

This was a very moving experience for me...Seeing the parents of the teenage employees get up and talk emotionally about how they were permanently scared by the experience, scared to go out in public, etc... and many other real life testimonies, the looks on those kids faces and geniune fear when looking at the defendent. It really had an impact on me and I am very glad to have been a part of it... Definitely one of those things that puts things into perspective and that you'll never forget.

If you are ever given the opportunity to serve, I highly recommend it. It is something that brings reality in the world much closer to many of us that have been sheltered from bad things for most of our lives.

[Wes]

Good for you, Andrew! I mean that. Way to stick to your guns and put things into perspective for the rest of the jurors. Just one more violent thug off the streets.