From my perspective as a private citizen having been summoned to serve as juror in criminal cases, civil cases, and county grand jury service. I asked to be excused because I will loose income if I serve. Some of the cases to be tried are expected to last months, as in one asbestos civil case I was summoned to serve on. I asked to be excused from this case because of the loss of income I would experience. The judge granted my request.

I always answer the defendant attorneys, the district attorneys and the judge questions truthfully.

There are two murder cases I remember. One of them the attorney for the defendant asked me to answer questions on a multiple page document he passed out to all potential jurors for the case. One of the questions. What is your thoughts on alcohol consumption? I replied, "I am sick and tired of people using drugs and alcohol as an excuse for their actions". I was dismissed, before I was able to ask not to serve.

Another murder case, there were multiple defendants. After the judge made his comments, the defendants attorney made his comments, while he made his comments, he had the defendants turn to face all of us potential jurors. I noticed the right hand of one of the defendants as they hung by his front pocket. I wondered if that hand held the gun that fired the bullet that killed the victim. I then looked up to the face of the defendant, he was smirking. On the questioner I was asked to fill in, I wrote that I believe the defendant is guilty, he is smirking in court as you speak, if he has gotten this far in the system that the court is seating a jury for his murder trial, he is probably guilty because the DA would not bring this to trial if he did not have evidence to assure conviction.

Great column. Thanks for dogging these cases and providing the community with follow-up info.