Jury Duty How Would You Vote?

[gshase]

Just got home from jury Duty and a 23 year old was charged with 2 counts of intoxication vehicular homicide. The defense questioned the would be jurors if they could consider giving probation to their client. Texas has guidelines from 2-20 years, If less than 10 years is handed down probation is a possibility. I was not selected and was banished from the court. So what could you give this kid if you found him guilty.

[ZOA NOM]

Priors?

[gshase]

we were told no felonies.

[onlycafe]

if he were to get probation he should have to take antabuse for the entire duration, or else go directly to jail.

[pwd72s]

"innocent until proven guilty" The only way to really know how I'd vote would be to sit in the jury box.

[ckelly78z]

I believe in severely harsh penalties for these sorts of crime where some people died because of a very poor decision on the part of the defendant, I don't believe I would go for probation IF he was found guilty.

Of course, I would like to be on that jury to hear the details to determine guilt.

[Red88Carrera]

If he was found guilty... no probation. It should be 2nd degree murder IMO! Probation just tells the next guy that it's not a big deal to drink/drive and kill someone. Just another thing wrong with this country.

[Rick Lee]

Probation for two counts of veh. homicide due to DUI? Kidding me? This guy should be too old to drive by the time he gets out of prison. I hope he's sued for millions and spends whatever freedom he has left using a walker to get back and forth to work to earn his restitution money.

[Baz]

Tell me more about how and why you were "banished"?

I have an interesting story to tell myself later on about jury duty.

On your question about probation - I've been told that I do not understand how the criminal justice system works so I guess my opinion may not be worth very much.

But I question probation and early release programs - we are too lenient these days.

[gshase]

I was not "banished" I was dismissed. My brother is a attorney and both sides asked me about my brother so I knew I had no chance of serving.

[Red88Carrera]

The OP wasn't asking if you would find him guilty or not. He is asking if you would allow probation. You don't need to sit on a jury to make that decision. That's why the defense was asking before-hand.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Red88Carrera

The OP wasn't asking if you would find him guilty or not. He is asking if you would allow probation. You don't need to sit on a jury to make that decision. That's why the defense was asking before-hand.

If that's the case, he has poor defense attorneys...also, the way the OP read to me, he was deemed guilty. Hmmmm

[Red88Carrera]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

If that's the case, he has poor defense attorneys...also, the way the OP read to me, he was deemed guilty. Hmmmm

Actually a pretty good defense attorney. Why not select those most likely to allow probation? It's jury selection, not a trial.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by gshase

I was not "banished" I was dismissed. My brother is a attorney and both sides asked me about my brother so I knew I had no chance of serving.

OK well that's a whole different can of soup. Thanks for the clarification.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Red88Carrera

Actually a pretty good defense attorney. Why not select those most likely to allow probation? It's jury selection, not a trial.

That, I'll concede. The O.P. was made with the assumption of a guilty verdict.

[Gogar]

Guilty! Guilty of crappy sentence stucture and punctuation.

Mwuahahahahahahaha

[weseeeee]

I'm not a fan of drinking and driving. If he is found guilty, I would lean towards the max of the sentencing guidelines. JMO

[gshase]

Yes this was VENIRE or jury selection. All the talk from both teams of lawyers was about assumption of a guilty verdict. I checked the on line court records and he has 2 docket #s.

[Tobra]

voir dire, not venire

no, if guilty, he goes directly to jail, he does not pass go, he does not collect $200

priors involving alcohol or drugs would make me lean towards the harsher end of the sentence continuum