I was on a case where they were trying to get a guy for distribution (of meth) because the cops found a pipe with some residue in it, along with about $400 cash. Three other people lived in the house, and they couldn't even prove the pipe was his. No prior record. It was pathetic, really. They didn't even have enough for possession, and they were trying for distribution. The thing is, it almost could have worked. The county was having a big problem with meth, and they were counting on the fact that at the mere mention of meth, the fine upstanding citizens in the jury box would send him to the gallows. Like I said, it almost worked. About half to the jurors would have called him guilty for just about anything, making comments like, "just look at him, you know he's a meth head," and "I don't care if they actually found the drugs or not, you know he's selling them."

My (least) favorite was this old lady. She told me," he looks like that Charles Manson. Do you know who Charles Manson was?"

"He's not Charles Manson," I replied.

"Well, he looks like him. Do you think he's murdered anyone?"

"He's not on trial for murder."

"I think he's done some awful things."

Later, as I was addressing most of the jury during a break with, "How can we possibly say this guy had the intent to sell drugs? They didn't even find any drugs to begin with."

The old lady chimed in. "Oh, I know he sells drugs."

Already knowing the answer, I asked, " how?"

"Just look at him."

Luckily for the guy on trail, we later found out that the cops had entered the house illegally, and that ended the case.

Yeah, you could totally tell this guy was strung out on meth. That had nothing to do with the case that was presented to us, though. The power trip and willingness to totally fuck this guy over with no evidence displayed by many of the other jurors was disgusting. I was dumbfounded by the whole experience, and it put a bad taste in my mouth for our whole concept of "justice". From the two asshat cops who banged the door down without a warrant, to whoever thought it was a good idea to pursue distribution over some residue in a pipe, to the bloodthirsty jurors.