Anatomy of a Trial [Period 4, Class #1, 5-13]

[glasses-justice.livejournal.com]

Class today was meeting in the Danger Room, which they might realize looked very much like a courtroom. Their professor entered with a cup of tea in one hand and a briefcase in the other.

Alex had decided the best way to teach this class -- at least this first week -- was to dive in and pretend it was a courtroom scenario, at least at the outset. They were teenagers, most of them; they should catch on rather quickly.

"Thank you for being here," Alex said, setting her briefcase down on the long table in front of her. "I know jury duty is generally seen as a thankless nuisance, but the court appreciates your civic duty. We're going to start with a voir dire session as we empanel a jury. Those of you who are selected will be seated to hear a case; those of you who are excused may go home, with our thanks."

"Voir dire means that we ask you to speak the truth. Both the defense attorney and I will be asking a number of questions so that we can be sure to seat an impartial jury, one that has no preconceptions or prejudices on the issues we're going to be facing in court. Therefore, we'll be asking a number of questions both related to the accused -- William T. Thornsmith -- and his alleged victim, as well as more general concerns.

"Once we've asked our questions, certain participants may be stricken for cause -- if either side can make a compelling argument that the potential juror is too biased to follow the rule of law -- or dismissed summarily by either side via 'peremptory challenge,' which simply means that one of us feels we'd rather that juror not serve. We only have ten each, and if either of us are caught using them discriminatorily -- that is, to eliminate members of a specific gender, ethnic group, or sexuality -- our challenges may be overturned.

"All you need to concern yourself with is answering questions as honestly as you can. The rest, you can leave to the lawyers; that's why we're so overpaid." She smiled at her students. "Shall we?"

(wait for the OCD! OCD of wtf-was-I-thinking-DOOM is up!)

Comments

Re: Karla: Case File - ANAT01

[glacial_queen]

Karla had never heard of the ACLU before. She held up a finger, wordlessly asking the male to wait a few moments while she approached the bench.

"ACLU?" she asked the imposing blonde woman. "Could you explain that to me, please?"

She had the irrational desire to explain to the computer program that her ignorance came from not being from around here.

Re: Karla: Case File - ANAT01

[glasses-justice.livejournal.com]

If Karla was observant, she might notice that the nameplate on the bench read. HON. ELIZABETH DONNELLY.

"American Civil Liberties Union," the woman pronounced crisply. She seemed no less imposing close-up, but had a friendly air nonetheless. "It's a non-profit organization which supports civil liberties, especially in regard to the First and Fourteenth Amendments. I would presume that he's referring to their fights against censorship in favor of freedom of speech."

Re: Karla: Case File - ANAT01

[glacial_queen]

"Okay," Karla said, nodding and trying to think of how that might affect the juror. "Thank you, Hon Donnelly," she said with grave formality.

In Karla's defense, not from around here.

She went back over to the juror. "The fires do not appear to have been in protest to any specific books or as a form of censorship. Will that affect your ability to act as a juror?"

Re: Karla: Case File - ANAT01

[glasses-justice.livejournal.com]

In the background there was a very facepalming sort of judge.

"I'll be sad about the missing books," the man joked, "but I promise not to stand up and chant slogans during testimony."

"Counselor?" the judge asked. "A word, please, whenever you're finished with this juror."

No rush.

Re: Karla: Case File - ANAT01

[glacial_queen]

Karla's grin was a little more genuine for him. "Thank you for your honesty," she said, before returning to the judge.

"You wanted to see me, ma'am?"

Re: Karla: Case File - ANAT01

[glasses-justice.livejournal.com]

"Yes," the judge said. She was smiling, and seemed more bemused than imposing. The imposing was still there.

"Your professor informed me that this was an introductory class, so I thought I should clear up one small misconception."

It was entirely possible the judge was enjoying this.

"My full name is Elizabeth Donnelly, and on the bench I am generally addressed as The Honorable Elizabeth Donnelly or Judge Donnelly, or simply 'Your Honor' or 'Judge.' When I am off-duty, your professor even calls me 'Liz.'"

... definitely enjoying this.

"The only people who call me 'hon' have to stay over and make breakfast the next morning, and you're a bit young for that. I appreciate the sentiment."

Re: Karla: Case File - ANAT01

[glacial_queen]

Karla's expression looked like she was struggling between mortification and hilarity. "Oh. Uhh, yes, Judge--err, Your Honor. I meant no, err, offense."

Facepalming in three...two...one...

"Thank you for the clarification," Karla said through her hand.

Re: Karla: Case File - ANAT01

[glasses-justice.livejournal.com]

The judge was straight-faced, although the quirks tugging at the edge of her lips hinted that she was fighting the urge to laugh.

"Any time," she said.