This was the first time I made it to voir dire (never got out of the jury holding room before - not because I looked funny or anything, the panels that go to the courtroom are selected randomly by juror number). I thought I would get struck on voir dire because I'm a lawyer . . . who wants another judge in the jury room? But they took me, much to my complete astonishment. What it did mean is that the jury got a written copy of the important charges, even though the judge didn't send them out in writing. I knew which ones would be key, and I can take notes fast in my own nutty shorthand (a mix of abbreviations, Gregg symbols, and German or Latin depending on which words are shorter).
I disagree that the population is full of morons. We had a good jury - from all walks of life from student to retired and working people both professional and trades - some were obviously sharper than others, some better educated, but everybody gave it a good honest try, discussed the issues thoroughly, and came to a decision. I think it was the right one. I would have been happy to have that jury try any case I was presenting. Maybe Cobb County just has a higher class of juror? I don't know.
In the 'debriefing' that lawyers try to have afterwards, I did ask the lawyers what in the world they were thinking to take me on a jury. They said (1) they thought from my answers to their questions that I would be fair and follow the law; and (2) they had other folks they needed to get rid of worse than me!
My son is an attorney and he was picked to be on a jury. He, in fact, ended up being the foreman.
After the trial, he asked the defending attorney why he was chosen and not released (he thought as you did, no one would want a lawyer on the jury)? The attorney said he wanted someone that he knew would follow the law, without emotion entering into the decision.