A FORUM FOR COMMUNITY ISSUES : Platform : Does a Jury or a Judge Dispense Better Justice?

Most people feel there’s a lot of injustice--they fear and doubt our system. But once you serve (on a jury), you get a different perspective. To make it work you have to get involved, and then you gain respect.

Facts can’t be changed. But they can be deceiving. They don’t tell the whole story. Physical stuff can be seen but certain unseen things must also be weighed. It’s important how the witnesses act when they testify.

In the case of the Rodney King beating trial, the video showed facts at the scene, but not other things. We didn’t see what happened before the tape. And you can’t always tape emotions or prejudices or what’s within the minds and hearts of people involved.

I was a juror in a civil case where someone was suing an insurance company. We felt he made a lot of false allegations and decided against him. It was amazing to sit in the jury box and see how the judge respects the jury. Before I served I thought all judges were die-hards, inhuman.