Juror 1: The pictures! Bloodied face. Blackened eyes. Broken fingers. This isn’t like CSI on TV. I think I’m going to be sick. Why didn’t she just leave the bastard? I hate this!
Magistrate: Another domestic violence case. Another broken victim. Another unrepentant perpetrator. The pictures! God! They tear me up. Juror 3 is nodding off – unbelievable! Wish I could do more. I hate this job!
Defense Attorney: Just doing my job – this guy’s a scum bag. I told him to clean up. Juror 5 looks sympathetic. God! Look at those pictures. Some days I really hate this job.
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The Trifextra challenge this weekend is to write a scene involving 3 people – 3 sections – 33 words each.
In my “real†life I oversee a domestic violence intervention program. Part of my job requires attending court sessions – after the fact – once I’ve had to non-comply a participant. In my mind I often write scripts – hopeful wording perhaps – for the people involved in the cases. My job is hard enough. I cannot imagine how hard it is for the people involved in such cases. I must say that the defense attorneys and I do not always see eye to eye. I’m hoping they really do have a conscience such as my pretend one above.
By the way, the comment from Juror 1 about why the victim didn’t just leave? We hear that a lot – that is putting the blame onto the VICTIM not on the perpetrator. There are LOTS of reasons she may not be able to leave. Learn more here: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Thanks for reading.
These cases must be very hard on all participants. It’s a heartbreaking situation.
I hope I am never on a jury for this. It would be all but impossible to be unbiased at the beginning and not want a death penalty after seeing the pictures.
This is a sad situation. It’s ironic that the lawyers on either side hate their job.
Ouch, that was a harsh one to tackle, but you did it well PM.
I used to hear that a lot. “Why don’t you just leave?” You can’t judge until you are in that person’s shoes. I was one of the lucky ones who got away, but still…when you are in it…you feel like there is no escape. Thank you for being a support to battered women.
Wow! You do this for a living? Well, God bless you because someone needs to – that’s for sure… It must be hard to go home and detach and put it out of your head for the evening. :/
First of all, as a woman who has had more than a nodding acquaintance with domestic violence, God bless you.
Second, I know what you mean about defense attorneys. As a matter of theory and law, I appreciate that they have an essential job to do. I get it. But when looking at the specifics, it’s sometimes easy to forget that.
And lastly, that’s a lot of story in 99 words. Brava!
I LOVE this idea. Maybe we could even hear a few more perspectives. Ooh … how about the accused? Or the guy on the third row who just realized he sat in gum?
The frustration and anger comes through in each perspective. Your words, and the link, regarding the issues surrounding the victims is greatly appreciated. It’s easy to pass judgement without actually being in the situation.
Thanks for joining us again. See you tomorrow for the new prompt.
You fit an incredible amount of thoughts and inner conflicts in this. (I can only imagine the 33 words of the defendant). This is a great and powerful piece.
Ouch. I wonder if “why didn’t she just leave?” isn’t also based in shock and misunderstanding. I hope that most who say such things don’t intend to blame the victim. (I’m sure some do.) But if a juror is confronted with horrific evidence of physical violence without ever having seen it before or even known someone who has experienced it, I can imagine that person trying to emathize and missing the boat. I can see (and by now I’m into I think they think she thinks territory) Juror #1 up there thinking, “I’d never endure that”. “How could anybody endure that?” “I would just leave!” “Why didn’t she just leave/ why did she keep going back?”
Note- I’m exploring the thinking, not trying to justify it. And I know that too many people DO blame the victim.
Jessie – you are doing a great job of introspection and retrospection. It’s NOT easy – and some are just uneducated or, like you think, have never been faced with such before.