Jury duty week

So this past Monday I was called for jury duty in Angleton. Eric had been about a month prior, so I was looking forward to a day off :) Once I reported, they put me in a group and told us to come back at 1:30. So since there's nothing to do in Angleton, I moseyed on down to Lake Jackson and killed some time at Hobby Lobby and reading my Bible.

I fully expected to be dismissed when we got back (like Eric was), but they pulled us in to a room and started interviewing us. They didn't tell us what the case was about, but asked a lot of questions around details of the case. Have you had a bad experience with the police? Have you been a victim of retaliation? Would the "F" word or racial slurs offend you in a manner that you would not be able to get past it? Is there any other legitimate reason why you feel like you should be excused from this jury? And 1000 other questions like it. It took the span of the afternoon to conclude the interview process and they waited until all the questions were asked to dismiss anyone. There were 60 of us in that room with the judge and lawyers (and defendent). I didn't get much of a chance to respond. And he said in the beginning, "You talk, you walk." Oh well. They sent us out for a time and then called us back in to read the list of juror names as well as a list of 35 others who had to report back the next day for a different judge. Haha. They thought they were done. I really don't understand why people hate jury duty so much. I guess if you don't get paid, it would be aggravating. It was kind of like a vacation for me, being paid without spending my leave days.

SO, report back at 8:45 so we can start at 9, they say. JUST KIDDING. I have learned that there are many similarities to Hollywood's depiction of trials, but the part where they make the jury wait outside for half the time the trial is in process was never accurately portrayed in any shows I've ever seen. Got a lot of Bible reading done.

The history behind the case: William Lewis had a son back in April 2007 at The Woman's Hospital of Texas. He and his wife thought they were being treated unfairly and tried to leave without being discharged. The elevators shut down when you get the baby too close. They couldn't leave and he got agitated. The police officers on duty were called in as soon as the elevator alert went off. The policeman thought the man might cause further problems, made quiet arrangements with the other police officer and used his taser. Mr. Lewis dropped his baby and the officer didn't get to her in time. She hit the floor and was immediately recovered and handed over to the mom. Understandably mad, Mr. Lewis threw insults right and left and made some threats. This was not to be part of the case though necessary in understanding the next part.

In July of 2007, Mr. Lewis called the police officer's home (an unlisted number) and threatened him. Only 2.9 seconds of the conversation made it on tape. The police officer's daughter picked the phone up at that point and handed it to her dad where the last parts of the threat/conversation took place. Mr. Lewis was being charged with retaliation toward a police officer. Sentencing would be anything from 6 months probation or community service (can't quite remember) to 10 years confinement in prison.

We heard from the police officer. We heard from the ex-wife. We heard from his mom. We heard from other police officers and a audio/voice forensics specialist. There were recorded conversations while he served time in prison, phone records, a letter to the ex-wife, a text message sent to the ex-wife after she testified, but A LOT of details left unseen or unheard by the jury. I was unsure about his guilt until the very end. I had been praying over the case and people involved and thought I had made a decision in the end. He was guilty. There was testimony and enough evidence to prove it.

Then deliberation starts. We started out talking about the thoughts we'd been having but weren't allowed to discuss until then. Come to find out, most of the jurors had discredited the main witness (the police officer) and some discredited even the prosecutor. Personally, I thought opposite almost everything they said. The policeman described some details incorrectly concerning the hospital/taser event. Therefore he couldn't be trusted to remember his voice or words correctly concerning the threat. Not to mention that many of them thought there was a conspiracy among the police to cover things up. Why did they not do this or that? They must be hiding something. I argue against a conspiracy and in behalf of the credibility of the cop. I have forgotten details of a stressful event 2 years prior, but will never forget the hurtful words said to me on occasion. The evidence didn't show the phone records registered to Mr. Lewis, though the numbers matched the ex-wife's numbers for Mr. Lewis (she's an ex, they say. How can she be trusted?). The police officer can't be trusted according to the other jurors, so his testimony is no longer applicable. So there's not enough evidence. We vote. 11 not guilty. 1 guilty. Lots of sighs and frustrating comments. All directed at the 1. Me. Because it's not the other way around (11 saying guilty and me saying not guilty), I say I'm willing to say there's not enough evidence, but that it makes me sick because I know he's guilty. They ALL agree. Are you kidding me? But they all stick to their judgments of the cop and conspiracy. We find the defendent, Mr. William Lewis, not guilty of retaliation against a police officer... even though we know him to be guilty. Makes me sick.

We were asked to stick around to talk to the attorneys if we didn't mind. We were released from our oath of silence. The prosecutor revealed information that wasn't admissable to the court which would've helped prove his guilt and I felt rotten for having given up so quickly and easily. I don't like confrontation and 11 people that didn't want to be there were trying to convince me to change my mind. I couldn't handle it, but now I wish I could've been stronger. Mr. Lewis is unstable emotionally, though I feel sorry for him with the events that have happened to him. He should've been convicted.

I wish I could rewind time. Yet I have never had such perspective on Jesus paying the sentence for my guilt and counting me "not guilty" in the end. Maybe God intended this to happen. Who can really alter the mind of the Lord if it's not in His plan anways? I pray for everyone involved often. I'll never forget the events or the people involved. I thought I would have a vacation. I thought it would be simpler than this. I didn't count on the "What if"s and regrets. It was a learning experience, to say the least.

Our first post

Welcome to our blog. This is the first time I've tried anything like this. Because we have so many family and friends so far away, we thought this would be a good way to keep everyone up to date on the happenings in our family. And of course we might post other thoughts and such along the way. Thanks for reading and sharing in our life! As you think of us, read our posts, and enjoy our pictures, please do us the honor of remembering us in prayer. We are nothing without Christ and our goal is to honor Him in all we do!

The latest:

Clayton is potty training! We've only had 2 accidents today... so far. For the third day of potty training, I'm feeling pretty good about that. Our babysitter has been SO patient and we are so very thankful for her help and advice as we are venturing into new territory!

Bryson has two teeth and does the army crawl now. He's a vocal baby, for sure! We will get weight and height stats when he goes in for his 6 month appointment.

Eric is still working at the church and coordinating the Upwards basketball program. We are still living across the street from my dad (for those who we haven't talked with in a while). We facilitate the Financial Peace University with some other friends from church. I am still teaching at Pearland High School. This is my 5th year there and I'm starting to get comfortable with routines and organization. I think I kind of like it :) Eric and I are learning to be on "mission" for the Lord wherever we are and it has changed our perspective about our lives. God has been teaching us a lot!

My mom is still in an assisted living facility in Alvin. She is bound to a bed or chair. She lost her ability to feed herself, walk, talk, or do a majority of things we take for granted. They are good to her at the home. I am thankful for that. My dad is strong because God gives him the strength. I continually wonder how people manage to deal with family or friends who have dimentia without the Lord guiding and comforting them. Who could truly come to terms with dimentia or any other disease without knowing the Lord and His mighty Hand? How great is our God! And how I trust Him everyday!

Thanks again for visiting. We will update as we can! And I promise we will post pictures soon!

Love, the Wyatts