Curious: How Many Here Have Actually Served On A Jury ?

[Zorro]

29. Yes. Attempted murder trial.

I was the foreman, the case was a boyfriend stabbing his girlfriend (who survived). Eleven of us were for conviction on a lesser charge (attempted manslaughter) within the first day, but one woman was being so hard to convince that I was wondering if she was channeling Henry Fonda in 12 Angry Men.

Sure enough later in our deliberations she actually brought up that very movie as some whacko basis for her holding out; the rest of us then figured out she was living out that movie in her own mind, with her as the star.

I was getting pretty exasperated with her, but I let the other women in the jury take over the debate and they finally convinced her to agree to convict.

You're right -- it's a jury of one's peers. Serving on a jury is an educational experience; there are so many other people living lives that are very different from mine.