TODAY THE WORDS are JURY DUTY. Since my husband received another summons to serve on a jury, this topic may not seem inspired but it is what it is. I served on a DUI jury about a year ago and that was my first experience of being on a jury. I was relieved it was not a murder case but I took the responsibility very seriously as I am firmly planted with the concept of “Do not drink and drive”.
However, while listening to the officer, who I held in respect, I caught a few things which concerned me. He had followed the defendant for almost 2 miles before he saw the driver right before a turn cross the white shoulder line commonly called fog lines only once with no other signs of weaving. The determining factor for all of us jurors was the police video. We observed the defendant being polite and standing at ease while the officer was checking out his vehicle. He didn’t sway or move during a lengthy stance and that somehow didn’t add up to someone supposedly intoxicated. He did the field walk test and seemed to be sober. He refused the field sobriety test (which I was unaware you could refuse it) and he had no prior offenses. Long story short, the entire jury was in unison not enough proof was given for DUI. The Prosecutor came to us after the dismissal for questions; in other words polled the jury and we were together in our reasoning. It is a civic duty to serve on a jury if asked and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. What I came away from it was there are two sides to a story. The officer, not to be blamed, was watching and probably the time of night came into play, the vicinity, and then the sway over the fog line. Do you want to know the biggest factor beside their own video in my decision? They allowed us to go to lunch and me being very observant looked at the vehicles going down the four lane road and here is the amazing results…Out of about 20 cars in the right lane, 5 or 6 went over the fog line at some point while I was driving to the restaurant. Now, for the deeper thought…..It occurred to me how it would be easy to get the verdict wrong as we are humans and even looking at all of the evidence; some of our history may sway our thinking. Maybe that is why the amount of people they put on a jury. Trying our best, innocent people can get convicted; guilty ones can go free. When life is over, there will not be a jury to guess if we spend eternity in Heaven. God is the supreme judge and even though God loves us all and is willing to forgive us of our sins, God knows the true verdict and all of the proclaiming to be good and all of the charity work if done for the wrong reason will not stand in the Final Court of Life. It will be a just verdict and a true sentence of eternal peace or eternal hell. Each day, we may cross the fog line and that may not enough to convict, but hurting others and being selfish and denying God may get us convicted. Live life; love life; and live life to the fullest by giving your testimony by living the Word of God. You will love the rewards of Eternal Peace.
DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
(c) copyright 2013 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.
