See You In Court

Random Thoughts and other Captures #11

There are no qualifications required to be on a jury. No educational requirements, no work experience, no demonstrative knowledge of anything is required. If you are called, have a heartbeat, and are selected then you are one of twelve people who hold another's life in your hands.

A jury of these completely unremarkable people is instructed that if they think a 'preponderance of the evidence' demonstrates beyond a 'reasonable doubt' that the accused is guilty then they must convict.

Ask each member of the jury what 'preponderance of the evidence' is and what 'reasonable doubt' means, and get twelve different answers. The terms themselves are vague and arbitrary.

When the jury members vote, they are voting on their individual understanding of those concepts -- including individual biases -- and their individual understanding of everything that was said and done during the trial. It is impossible that everyone understood everything the same. The concept of a jury trial of your peers is just as absurd as the concept of government itself. Arbitrary and unjust.

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