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Dallas County Jury Duty – part two

June 3, 2013 By Talya Tate Boerner

If you missed Part One of Dallas County Jury Duty, click here to catch up… 

mid-way through voir dire and hell…

“What would lead you to believe someone intended to distribute drugs?” the Dallas County prosecutor continued.

“I would have to see him selling the drugs,” came a shout from the second row. Almost everyone agreed with this disgruntled man’s retort. The momentum shifted as the prosecutor began losing his crowd. People were tired and numb and ready for happy hour.
“Anything else?”
Nope. There was no other way, according to two-thirds of the unimaginative throng.

I wanted to scream out if I saw little baggies of drugs spread out on his kitchen table, I would think he intended to sell. 

Instead, I ate my last lemon drop.

The prosecutor read my mind. “Let me give you a scenario. What if you saw methamphetamine divided into baggies in his car, would you think he intended to sell?”

Nope. Not according to two-thirds of the crazed. Maybe the car wasn’t his. Maybe the drugs belonged to someone else. Maybe the drugs truly were his, but he planned to keep all the baggies for himself, for recreational purposes of course…

Oh sweet Jesus.

I wanted to scream out drug dealers don’t write their name on little baggies of drugs! Nor do they leave them laying around in someone else’s car! 

Would anyone notice if I ran out for more lemon drops?

“What about you, Ms. Boerner? If you saw baggies in his car, would you be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt he intended to distribute?” 

Me?

For the first time that long day, my name was pronounced correctly. This prosecutor was impressive.

“Yes I would.” 
How could I not?

I’m from Northeast Arkansas where remnants of exploded single-wide turned meth labs can be found along farm roads.

I was toast. {sigh}

talya

click here to read part three of my Dallas County jury duty saga…

“When you go to court, you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty.” – Norm Crosby

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: humor

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Comments

  1. Mary Hill says

    June 3, 2013 at 10:18 am

    Hi, so funny. I nominated you for a Sunshine Award. Thanks for your support. I love your blog.

    http://mary-anderingcreatively.blogspot.com/

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 3, 2013 at 2:13 pm

      Thank you Mary!

  2. Kelly Louise says

    June 3, 2013 at 3:08 pm

    Too funny, I’ll be thinking of you with each lemon drop and patiently waiting for installment number three.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 3, 2013 at 6:03 pm

      Thanks for reading Kelly. And for following Grace Grits and Gardening!

  3. jonesgreatscott says

    June 4, 2013 at 7:18 am

    Oh no a cliffhanger!

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 5, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      Only because people would be snoring if I wrote the entire story in one blog – LOL.

  4. Gary Henderson says

    June 4, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    I can tell that if I’m ever called *knocking on wood*, I’ll be toast, as well. On the other hand, I might be dismissed.

    http://funtimeshad.com/2012/12/neil-degrasse-tyson-has-an-update-about-jury-duty/

    The sad part is that they’ll dismiss you if you know anything about how untrustworthy eyewitness testimony is.

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 5, 2013 at 5:25 pm

      I think it’s impossible to predict how to be dismissed…

  5. Bryan Jones says

    June 7, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    heading on to read part 3!

  6. Joyce Lansky says

    June 11, 2013 at 4:24 am

    They probably take one look at you and think, good jury material. That’s why the same people get chosen repeatedly.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      June 11, 2013 at 4:28 am

      So next time I will wear my Halloween witch hat:))


Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (2022)

THE THIRD ACT OF THEO GRUENE (coming 2025)

Recent Ramblings:

  • Sunday Letter: May 25, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: May 4, 2025
  • Sunday Letter: Rainy Day Edition
  • Spiderwort: my love-hate relationship
  • Sunday Letter: March 23, 2025

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