I just had to know, so this week, I called the ADA in the case I might have served on. Guilty on two counts of robbery. One count involved the use of a weapon, the second, the use of an accomplice. “Young Dewey”, as the defense asttorney kept referring to the defendant, hasn’t been sentenced yet, but he faces 15 years in prison.
Jury duty has informed my questions. Your answers to any or all questions in the appropriate location is appreciated:
What’s your job, your spouse’s/significant other’s job (if retired, what the jobs were)?
I’m a business librarian. My wife’s a teacher of English as a Second Language.
What’s the age of your children?
One child, almost three.
What are your hobbies?
Blogging, racquetball.
What are your memberships?
Vice-President of the Friends of the Albany Public Library; member of my church choir.
Have you been a victim of a crime?
Why, yes. I’ve had four bicycles stolen in Albany over a 25-year period. One in front of the Unitarian Church, one in front of the YMCA, one hidden behind the YMCA (that one was unlocked), and one in the vestibule of my apartment. I had a boom box stolen. I was assaulted when I was 16. (Sidebar to GP: If memory serves – it was a LONG time ago, and I’m no lawyer – the Marine probably COULD have gotten as much as a year in jail, but might also have gotten a suspended sentence.) Someone stole a bunch of my LPs and all of my baseball cards that were stored at my grandmother’s house. And when I was a kid, someone stole my coin collection; I was pretty sure I knew who the perp was, but couldn’t prove it.
Do you know anyone in the local police department?
There was a guy from my former church, but I’m not in contact with him presently. The name of one of the arresting officers in the case sounded familiar, though. I think he took my statement in the boom box case.
Do you know the local district attorney, or anyone in his/her office?
I worked on the campaign of the current DA, and met him once, briefly.
Also: have you served on a jury? Would you want to? Why or why not?