Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury

I like to entertain myself by taking those REALLY horrible MySpace-esque surveys. Really, I do. There's nothing I love more in the world.

But they're a little out-dated.

I also love to entertain the thought that I will one day be on the jury of a high profile crime case. Something about a murder or better yet, serial murdering.

Imagine my excitement when I see on The SFist a list of questions they're asking potential jurors for the BART killing trial. (In case you want to know the whole story it's here. )

I couldn't be happier.

— Have you ever written a letter to the editor?

Uhmmmm..... No. I've commented on some blogs before. Does that count?

— List any subject matter or genre in reading materials, television programs or movies that you try to avoid.

I avoid crime or war books unless they're classics. I also avoid Tom Clancy or whatever his name is like the plague. I don't really like anything too contemporary or modern. I usually flip through a book and if a cell phone, an email, or a specific model of car is referenced and is particularly important for the entire story, I won't read it. I watch a lot of Law & Order but I hate teeny-bopper TV shows like.... American Idol, The OC, One Tree Hill, or something that will one day be found on Noggin.

— Do you consider yourself an expert on any subject?

I consider myself an expert at pretty much everything but I'm actually an expert on pretty much nothing. Unless you count: eating, really terrible stories you shouldn't tell children, and not getting any work done in a day. Also, sleeping through heavy noise. I'm reeeeaallly good at that.

— Have you ever considered working in law enforcement?

I considered it briefly because I'm such a stickler for the rules. I love guidelines. I'm also an "all or nothing" kind of girl which seems like it would suit well to the carrying out of laws sometimes arbitrarily written. I decided against it because I'm not very authoritarian and hate to be. And when it came down to it I question things more than I blindlessly obey.

— Have you, friends or relatives ever had a gun pointed at you or them, or been frightened by a gun?

Oh my god, no. I'm sure we've all had our turns just generally being FRIGHTENED by guns, but to be specifically frightened BY a gun? I'm gonna say no.

— Have you ever visited someone in a jail, prison or juvenile detention facility, or have you ever been incarcerated?

I think my mom made we wait outside in the car once while her and my dad took turns visiting one of my older brothers in Juvie. But it was so long ago I can barely remember.

— Have you or anyone close to you ever had a bad experience with a police officer?

Do tickets count?

— What should be done to reduce crime?

I have a general belief that there isn't much we can really do about crime. It's inevitable. In a perfect world with peace for all mankind then: If there was no one hungry or in want. If every person that wanted to succeed could do so easily. If there were no drugs and no problems that needed escaping... there'd be no crime. I don't think super strict laws or more intimidating police force would actually reduce crime. It might, I guess....

— Do police officers lie? If yes, how often?

I imagine that they lie as often as normal people do. Meaning that some must like every day multiple times a day and others work hard not to tell lies their whole loves.

— Do you understand the charges are not evidence?

Well duh. I did go to school for Legal Studies, after all. I'm not an idiot/

— Could you fire a gun in self-defense?

I want to say I could. I'd hope I could if it came down to it. But I don't really trust myself...

— Should police officers be treated differently than civilians if they break the law?

In some ways, yes, because police officers are enforcers of the law they should be held to a higher standard. It's like celebrities, they don't want to be overly scrutinized but it's part of the career package. If they wanted to be held to the same lax standards as normal citizens they shouldn't SIGN UP to be role models, to be examples. Yet, I see that they are just human beings and we'll all make mistakes. Getting a badge doesn't instantly make one a super hero.

— Will the fact that a white police officer shot and killed a black man make it difficult for you to be a fair and impartial juror in this case?

Nah. I feel like I, of all people, and especially in this case could be completely color blind. Circumstances dictate more than mere colors.
— Do you have an opinion as to whether racial discrimination is a problem in Oakland?

Is it possible to not have an opinion? Whether positive or negative, an opinion is an opinion.
— If you are selected as a juror in this case, do you anticipate any negative reactions by friends or family if you find the defendant guilty? If you find the defendant not guilty?

No, I think everyone would be too psyched and happy for me that I got to live out my dream of being a juror. Guilty or not, I'd throw myself a party.

— Would you like to serve on this jury?

Please see previous paragraphs. haha.