You pegans get all the great benefits. All I ever get is stale bread and cardboard box quality wine. Pity I don't believe in transubstantiation. Even that would have to taste better than the wine...

On the first day, no (she was in one of the other court rooms linked via CCTV). But on Tuesday (when she was interviewed by the judge and lawyers) she was. As was mentioned in the article, the defendants were all cleaned up and well dressed, acting quite personable. However, what couldn't be seen by the jury was the fact that the defense tables were specially built to hide the fact that these guys were chained to the floor!

How does one get a nickname like "The Snail"?

How does a "Silverstein" end up in the Aryan Brotherhood?

I saw GusGus at NA's house shortly after this started, even though she said very little that day, she was still very upset by the prospect, and dreading what was to come. I think this was even before she found out who and what it was.

I'm glad its over. That appeared to be a heavy weight for her, and I'm very glad she had you there for her.

Totally. What a load off of GG's back. Pretty scary stuff.

She knew who it was at that point. She found out the first day.

I actually did serve on a jury several years ago. It is the lowest crime that you can get a jury trial for: petty theft. It was the prosecutor's first case and she didn't do a very good job with it. She would start a line of questions, leading to an obvious destination, and then not finish the thread.

The entire jury knew the guy was guilty (all 12 said so) but we couldn't convict because the evidence was not brought out in court. We actually deliberated for a day and a half! Hung jury.



"They said you was hung."

"And they was right!"

Thank Goddess that GusGus is a tattooed witch!!

I am so relieved she got out of that mess! That being said, tho, where would my family be without the brave jurors who convicted the gangsters that shot and paralyzed my nephew? It's a very tough call to make when someone must step up to the plate ... but not you or your loved ones.



Interesting to think about this "Silverstein" case as regards my stance on the death penalty (anti). How do you go further than life in prison without treading into the territory of taking human life (a major verboten to me, whether done by "state" or man)?

Perhaps this veers near cruel or unusual, but for these guys - if convicted of conducting murders while already serving life sentences - I'd go for permanent solitary confinement with no human contact ever again.


(Oh, and for Silverstein, who betrays his race by somehow managing to join the Aryan Brotherhood under false pretenses of a silly nickname, I'd have no problem with ritual torture.)

I'll admit it; it's a tough call. If not Susan, then who?

But if one fears that their life could genuinely be in peril simply by sitting on a jury, could that person render a true and honest verdict? The fear of retribution could be enough to sway an individual, and it only takes one juror to keep from a conviction.

If myself or a loved one sat on this jury and a conviction is rendered, I would be fearful of my and my loved one's safety for the rest of my life. And unfortunately, there are going to be 20 people (they are picking 8 alternates for this trial) that are going to be in that very position.

LOL! I will somtimes call her Lydia.

I served on a Federal jury two years ago. It was a really fascinating experience and even though it was five dependents and four counts each the whole thing was over in about three weeks.

Reading about this particular case had me remembering that during this trial all the jurors' names were quite openly mentioned in court. I'm used to Superior Court where I'm pretty sure they've switched to just using juror ID numbers. I don't think the defendents in this case were any danger to anyone but themselves, the charges involved conspiracy and extortion and the whole crime was the result of greed and stupidity.

After we gave the verdict (guilty) and were dismissed, the daughter of one of the defendents approached us and wanted to talk. A couple of jurors stuck around but I just wanted to go home. Then a month or two later I had a message on my answering machine from an investigator who apparently was working on the appeal for one of the defendents (the same one whose daughter had approached us) and wanted to talk to me. I got one other message from him but I never called him back.