The Marshall Project

I Was a Juror on a Murder Trial, And I Still Can’t Let It Go

“I felt an overwhelming sense of injustice. How did this happen?”

Being a juror had never been something I was familiar with—very far from it, actually. I had grown up in Paris, France, and my interests had always been in fashion and the music industry.

I lived in both Europe and the U.S., traveling back and forth, and worked for a high-profile entertainer for a number of years. For the most part, all I was concerned about was the brand of handbag or shoes that I would be buying next, and where I’d go on my next holiday.

Life Inside Perspectives from those who work and live in the criminal justice system. Related Stories

But then I got that jury-duty notice in the post, or “by mail,” as you guys say. So many times, I’d heard people complaining about being called for jury duty—the inconvenience, the missing out on work and income, and then the advice on how to get out of it should you be before even making it to the courtroom.

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