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.