Skakel Jurors Get The Grill, The Drill

Hartford Courant ^ | April 16 2002 | LYNNE TUOHY

[2Trievers]

So, you think you want to be a juror in the Michael Skakel murder case, but you're not sure.

That's a good start. Those especially eager to serve aren't chosen.

After eight days of far more people being rejected than chosen, the criteria for selection by now are obvious.

If you were among the new pool of prospective jurors being brought to Norwalk Superior Court this morning, you would be questioned about your hardships, your heartaches, your hobbies and your biases.

You would be asked if you are able to return a verdict guaranteed to rip out someone's heart.

[2Trievers]

Set up for injustice ... video at 11.

[Nitro]

Anyone knows Tiger could have hit that shot with a 70% wedge!!

[Quila]

This jury selection process seriously has to change. It's "jury of peers" not "carefully presecreened to get a verdict before the trial jury of peers."

It should be cut back to only a few questions that only the judge can ask. "Do you have any relationship with any party involved in this case?" "Do you have any personal interest in this case?" "Do you have any preconceived ideas of guilt in this case?" are about all I can think of that are appropriate, and a yes answer isn't necessarily a reason for exclusion.

You have the right to take the Fifth, but not if you are a juror.

[David]

"This jury selection process seriously has to change. It's "jury of peers" not "carefully presecreened to get a verdict before the trial jury of peers." It should be cut back to only a few questions that only the judge can ask. "Do you have any relationship with any party involved in this case?" "Do you have any personal interest in this case?" "Do you have any preconceived ideas of guilt in this case?" are about all I can think of that are appropriate, and a yes answer isn't necessarily a reason for exclusion."

In this kind of case that might be reasonable. But in many, if not most cases, its not. The lady who starts with her handwringing about not wanting to hurt anybody's feelings ought not be on a jury.

Although I do not blame the situation on the jury selection process, we convict way too many people who are innocent. Whatever the rules; whatever the judge's instructions; the strong presumption is that any defendant who is charged is guilty--that is wrong.

[Francohio]

Beam Me Up, Double-Dog. Jury Time in Norwalk!

Let's see: Hmmm. Section 8 Tenants from Flax Hill. They don't look too bad and are reliable against the cops. Now let's hit the Post Office. They can get the time off, and not for nothing are they known as the Defendant's Friend. By all means, make sure you restrict juror search to the Democrat registration rolls. Oh yeah, let's take a look at some college students who weren't yet born at the time of the incident, they'll be cool with the drug thing.

Borscht! Skakel ought to be tried by a jury of his CT peers who made it: contemporary married, working, family people. Why not some people who did not take this stupid, yet arrogant SOB's path of excape and evasion from all responsibility?

After this is done, Sherman will wind up with a collection of fools who would let Hitler walk out of the court room a free man.

[2Trievers]

And they do this twelve times, plus alternates? Great! Pass me whatever is keeping you company Franco! &;-)