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I hope you’ve never been a defendant or plaintiff in a courtroom because that would mean that there was some trouble in your life. But, if you have had that experience, you may know how stupidity in the court happens.
I’ve been on one jury - no stupidity, just a civil suit that only took a day. And, the verdict was very obvious to all. The scary thing was a couple of the jurors were older women, and they evidently sit on juries as a hobbie. They wanted everyone’s name because they kept a scrapbook on all their juries. Hmmm….
I saw this in a magazine (from JCR, the magazine of the National Court Reporters Association) the other day and it reminded me of courtroom silliness:
Lawyer: Do you know when that meeting occurred?
Witness: The March 9 meeting?
Lawyer: Yes
Witness: March 9
I think things like that happen when the attorney isn’t very prepared for a particular witness. I think it’s the same reason that people say “Ummm” before answering a question, because they’re giving themselves time to think.
And, evidently while they’re thinking of the next juicy question to ask, their ability to recognize what they’re currently saying is significantly reduced.
I was a witness in a trial once. It was a ridiculous civil suit that should never have gotten into a courtroom. But, it did, and after being warned by the defendant’s attorney that it would happen, I was served a subpoena - more than once, actually, because the trial date got moved around.
Unless you try to hide from process servers, you’ll find them rather nice and actually apologetic. Explaining that I was expecting the subpoena didn’t seem to make them feel any better.
Here was my stupid question. The attorney seemed to be very busy looking at some papers he was holding. I had just explained that I heard a fight, went outside to see what was happening, then went back inside to call the police. And, the lawyer asked:
“And, how long were you there?”
And, I said, “Ummm, well, I guess until I left”.
Then, the attorney asked, “Oh, so you didn’t go back outside?” Which I think would have been the appropriate question in the first place.
Don’t you?
