And that’s all the humor I have for this topic. The details are too horrific, and Mr. Becker’s going to be found guilty. It’s just a question of where he ends up for the rest of his days.

…for people to get their e-hate on.

The question about Nancy Grace is pretty obvious. Nancy was a former prosecutor and therefore is always looking to come down hard on the alleged perpetrator. Thus if they like or watch the Nancy Grace show it’s logical to assume that they wouldn’t be impartial when looking at Becker.

They question about trial by water was again a question in reference to someone’s feelings in regards to guilt or innocence. Trials by water presents a dichotomy, the innocent drown and the guilty live. There is no middle ground there. So while it’s obvious that Becker is guilty, he is attempting to find if the juror would consider the different levels of guilt. So: how guilty is an insane man? The juror’s obvious response would be: no, that system isn’t fair at all. The guilty should drown and the innocent should live. But again, he wants to establish that middle ground.

Judges generally don’t let you flat out ask jurors their opinions on the legal system or the case, so you have to get creative.

The Nancy Grace question is common; jurors who like her or regularly watch her show are generally more prosecution-oriented (I use the same kind of question, asking each juror where they get their news; I like Fox News people, because I like conservative juries).

Sock drawer organization is new to me, but I’m guessing it’s much of the same; people with orderly drawers presumably lead more orderly lives. You want slackers and bums as a criminal defense attorney, especially when your entire case relies on the mental condition of your client.

I can’t give you an answer on the vacation thing. Could just be a way of connecting with the jurors.

The “trials by water” is a test balloon for the insanity defense. Becker is going away, whether guilty or innocent. The jurors’ responses are immaterial. She’s just putting the image in the back of their minds from the start.

And, yet, I agree. This jury has to be biased from the start.

(I do civil litigation)

But I clerk/interterm/GET PAID PAPER for a criminal defense firm and will be going into that prestigious area of the law.