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To: jagusafr
In many jurisdictions, there's discretion as to whether to send the instructions out with the jury. In Georgia, many do not. Which I think is silly, but there you are. Apparently some judges think the voluminous instructions will distract the jury from fact-finding.

After many, many years practicing law and working for the appellate court system, I was put on a jury (much to my surprise!) It was a will contest in probate court. I was appointed foreman without a vote (everybody just turned and looked at me) and the first thing I said was, "We better get a copy of the jury instructions." Called the bailiff, he went away, came back, said, "The judge doesn't generally send them back." I said, "No worries, I took notes on the important ones."

We wound up breaking the will, but it really wasn't a close call. First vote was 10-2 and the 2 were just doubtful, after we went over the evidence they were convinced. Took us about 5 hours including lunch :-)

73 posted on 05/29/2024 2:28:45 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda, Radix David, Alleluia!)
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To: AnAmericanMother

Only jury I got picked for was before law school (traffic case in small town Texas where not enough prospective jurors appeared and the judge sent the cops out to round up some townsfolk, which included me). Been on two venire panels since I got licensed, never got picked. For years, Texas lawyers were exempt from service, but somebody decided that wasn’t fair (though I would virtually never have a lawyer on a jury).


173 posted on 05/30/2024 4:34:33 AM PDT by jagusafr ( )
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