I arrived before lunch and was surprised to see vacant seats in the hall/lobby area. It meant I had a decent chance to get in for the afternoon session. Yay!!
I see a gal who had been there the day before, she brought her friend with her today. The day before I'd helped her set up her iPad so she could get the feed out in the hall.
More about them later.
After I get seated I text KCL to find out if she's coming to the afternoon session and let her know I have a decent chance today.
She says she will be there for the afternoon.
To pass the time most of us chit chat about the trial. A few are watching the feed on their tablets and phones. Nurmi is up, so I'm not going to bother.
Others are causing
some drama, but that's a whole other story for later.
Yay! Lunch hour, court is out and I'm 90 minutes closer to getting inside. Time passes quickly, before we know it security comes out and gives us the rundown, which I've heard in various versions the past few weeks.
1. Electronics must be powered down, and kept out of sight. Only the media is allowed to use them inside the courtroom. If you are caught you may be taken downstairs where a sheriff's deputy will search the content of your phone. You will be held until they decide if you've breeched any security. (no thanks to that, I make sure mine are off and out of sight).
2. No food or drinks. Water or soda in a closed container *bottled* allowed, as are cough drops or hard candy.
3. Advised not to talk, as we can be heard. There are microphones all over the courtroom and they pick up a lot of the talk. We are reminded that the defendant and victim have families in attendance and our remarks could be hurtful if heard. Can be booted out for talking.
4. Go to the bathroom now. If you have to leave during court you will not be let back inside until there is a side-bar, if at all. People coming and going is a distraction to the jury. (does not apply to media
And with that we're escorted inside the first set of double doors, then through the second set inside the courtroom Once inside we are told where to sit.
Today we were seated from the back row going forward. I am in Row 4, Seat 4, right behind Katie-Dr Drew's Juror today.
I hear someone complaining behind me. She was upset because she and her group were 1st in line and was assigned to sit in the back row. I guess they felt they should get to sit in row 2 (row 1 is for family) and were pizzed about sitting in the back. I write in my notebook, "I'm happy to get inside and don't care where I sit".
I look around for KCL and see her, we smile and wave.
To my right are the two gals from the lobby/hall. To my left is one we call Glamour Girl and next to her is Gypsy Woman. GG and GW seem to hit it off and they are chatting away, I'm chatting with the two gals to my right.
Nurmi walks in, all smiles, usually he's got a frowny face.
Wilmott walks in, on her phone texting.
All rise- Judge Stephens takes the bench. Sidebar already... Several "sheesh" and "omgs" are heard in the gallery.
I glance over at the victim's family. Samantha has her hair in a pretty braid up-do, and Tanisha's looks like a new color, some auburn tones... very pretty. Another sister is in attendance as is a brother and Tanisha's husband. I just want to hug them, my heart breaks for what they are going through. Sorry, I can't remember the other sister and brother's name.
Sidebar over and that gawd-awful white noise.... ahhh, silence. Please stand for the jury -- jury takes their seats.
Next I'll list the jury and my opinion.