Today I finished jury duty by letting a man go free. He was charged in the North Court of Orange County with misdemeanors battery and child abuse. The case was an embarrassment. The prosecutor presented no real evidence. The story was a classic "he said" - "she said" drama. The jury was asked to decided which party was telling the truth. With no reference point and no evidence, it was impossible. The attorney for the defense was no better than the prosecutor. His presentation was bizarre, unfocused, and hard to understand. It was a misdemeanor court, with a "b" team prosecutor, public defender. and a retried in place Judge. The mother had children by two men but was never married. The father of her other children is in prison. The man accused of hurting the mother and the two year old son they share, is unemployed, draws disability (for two years), is not supporting his son or mother financially, and appears to be a former gang member. He was also a convicted felon (assault with a deadly weapon) for a gang related fight in 98. The mother is no better. Her sister was shot in their front yard. It was gang related. Neither mother or father was believable, nor were any of the other witnesses except a nine year old boy, only what he said made no sense.
Hell the judge fell asleep during the trial (several times). I was in a trailer park court, with trailer park lawyers, and trailer park parents. It really sucked. Did I mention that the court facility had ZERO security.
After the trial ended, the prosecutor actually asked us how she could improve her efforts. When we said "present evidence". She looked mystified. God help us.
