Advice From a Judge While Waiting For a Jury

"Waiting is really the hardest part," The judge of my first jury trial told me. After a day and a half the Jury had yet to send back a jury communication. Jury communications are like chicken bones to a trial attorney. Juries aren't allowed to suggest in their communications how the vote stands in their decision. Jury communications are used by attorneys solely to determine how their vote stands in their decision.

"I just want to know what's going on in there. What could they possibly be talking about?"

"Y'know son, have you ever had a child?" the judge asked me. This is about five years before I married.

"No, Judge."

"It's kind of like waiting for your wife in the delivery room. You can't really do anything but wait and hope the baby comes out healthy."

"That's great judge, but there's only one problem."

"What's that?"

"I'm scared the baby won't look like me!!!"