Plum Crazy

My sentiments about the Jennifer Wilbanks case remind me of how I got bounced as a prospective juror last year. We were brought in for the case of a woman charged with interfering with police officers during a drug arrest. Two thoughts went through my mind when the judge read the charges. The first was since when do they actually go to trial for such a small offense. The second, upon looking at the middle-age black woman before us, was that she looks like someone's kindly mother who under normal circumstances probably wouldn't hurt a fly. Yes, I realize that's judging a book by its cover and I could have been dead wrong. Still, I couldn't help but think that she was protecting someone close to her and really hadn't done anything that outlandish, otherwise, she would have been on trial for a more serious crime. Again, another leap on my part. But when it came time to answer the prosecutor's question if any of us would have a problem finding her guilty, I spoke up with the simple comment, "Based on the nature of the charges, I'm not sure it's worthwhile" or something to that effect. Just like that I was a goner. The woman, however, was certainly happy with me. She gave me a big nod in agreement. Wonder what ever happened and if the case was what I thought it to be. I will never know.