What grade would you give Judge Perry so far with the jury selection

[rookie]

I don't know what grade to give him, but it isn't a good one.

I don't like how he fined that man for contempt for simply talking to someone about getting out of jury duty and making him pay $450.00, but today a woman ignored the rules of the court and instead of showing up to court as she was ordered, she went to work.
She was fined nothing.
Not very fair in my eyes.

Next, the state was denied striking a juror because she can't judge someone which could very well hang the jury and delay Caylee getting justice AND cost the taxpayers of Fla. even more money, time, etc. in getting what needs to be done.
Biaz claims "racism" and the judge agrees with him?
But then Biaz strikes one due to being "female"?!
And the judge lets that one go through.
Again, not a fair ruling to me.

Then, i've heard commentators saying they've never seen any judge do the jury selection like this and it worries me that this will give the defense just what they want/need to get a mistrial.
I hate the thought.
I wish he would take the time and let them look at the rest of the potential jurors before forcing them to make a decision they may not want, thereby throwing all this time and work out the window.

Oh and on a lighter note:
Am I the only one who thinks Ann F.'s profile looks like <modsnip>?
My God, she's the spitting image!

 

[ynotdivein]

Were we mind melding across the pond?:waitasec:
I just wrote the same thing in the sidebar thread !

:floorlaugh:

As a mod, I happened to read one then the other on the separate threads and had a weird deja-vu-time-warp-maybe-I-should-have-a-calming-glass-of-wine moment! :blowkiss:

 

[Mamabear1963]

Me, I am still giving him an A!

I believe that when we are all done...at the end of the 8 weeks....that will be the AHA moment for the DT and for the naysayers here on WS.

HHJP has a plan, understands the justice system far better than I do and I trust him even if I don't understand. And if I don't like something HHJP does...I refer back to my earlier thoughts.

 

[Scamperoo]

I would change my A to a B if I could, he is just not being consistent nor is he being even handed. I love HHJP but jury selection takes time and needs to be fair.

 

[AZlawyer]

B-. It would be a C- if he couldn't still fix both of these things if he wanted to. So C- if we get a jury sworn in and these two rulings are still in effect:

(1) The Batson (race) challenge being granted. WTF? But still, at least it isn't an appellate issue for the defense.

(2) Forcing backstrikes to be concluded before the entire panel is questioned. My (admittedly hurried) research suggests this is not OK. Griffin v. State, 502 So. 2d 1350 (Fla. App. 1987). http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=17861842861004495917&hl=en&as_sdt=2&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr

 

[crimecharlotte]

I voted too early... I wish I could change my vote now! :maddening:

 

[100%Agave]

I had given him a B earlier but I would love to change this to something lower. Maybe a C or even a D. Don't get me wrong, I love love love this judge but I am worried that we are not getting the best jury possible due to the way that it is being handled right now. Juror 1319 should be gone and I still don't understand why she is not. HHJP seems to ride the prosceutions butt constantly but allows JB and company to do things that don't seem quite right. I actually caught myself yesterday thinking that he was trying for a mistrial so that they could start over again.

 

[TxLady2]

I think he is doing a very good job. I haven't been able to watch all the jury selection, we've had a mini-crisis with my FIL, but from what I've seen, he seems to be very fair.
As for trying to speed things up, this trial was set to begin Mon, and the delay no doubt has upset his schedule a great deal. When one trial is delayed, that throws the whole thing off. No doubt other trials have to be moved back as well.
He has to follow the law, so when he makes a decision, keep in mind that he has to consider how that decision might affect the outcome of this trial.
I do disagree that his concern is only for Caylee. His job is to preside over the trial, and see that the defendant is given a fair trial and justice is served. I'm sure he cares about all victims, but as a judge he is not there to make sure the defendant is found guilty. At the end of the day he cannot show any emotions, no matter what the verdict is.

 

[gawdess]

I am only familiar with HHJP after watching jury selection the past few days, but I already have a lot of respect for how he handles things in his court. I appreciate that he treats people like human beings and expects they should be treated as such. I like how he respectfully addresses other people and his good manners shine through even in the most minute statements, such as how he "kindly" thanks people when he is excusing people from their jury duty. I have a true appreciation for HHJP.

I think HHJP is doing all he can to provide ICA with a fair trial given the circumstances. This is his job as a judge and I respect that he is honoring the process and making all attempts possible to be fair.

The only critique I have is I feel like "The Perry Plan" is a moving target and it drives me crazy. I think he can be a little confusing in his expectations. One minute he is going to interview until they reach 15 PJ's. Next, they are going to 12. Pick a number of jurors and stick with it!
Also, I feel that jury questioning is being rushed and forcing people to use backstrikes before the entire pool is selected may backfire later.

Taking all these things into account, I give HHJP an A- for his demeanor and B- for his procedure.

 

[Anais]

I have complete confidence that when all is said and done with this process of jury selection HHJBP will have left no skid marks for appellate issues. I just have 1000% faith in his research!

 

[Mamabear1963]

If I could raise my grade higher I would...

Have I ever said I really, really like this judge?

 

[ZsaZsa]

B-. It would be a C- if he couldn't still fix both of these things if he wanted to. So C- if we get a jury sworn in and these two rulings are still in effect:

(1) The Batson (race) challenge being granted. WTF? But still, at least it isn't an appellate issue for the defense.

(2) Forcing backstrikes to be concluded before the entire panel is questioned. My (admittedly hurried) research suggests this is not OK. Griffin v. State, 502 So. 2d 1350 (Fla. App. 1987). http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=17861842861004495917&hl=en&as_sdt=2&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr

Umm-:waitasec: re: (1) are you saying he should reverse his decision on THAT lady, and allow the SA to strike her?

 

[BigMomma]

All in all, I give HHJP an A. His patience has been over tried time and time again, but he is being pretty adequate on both sides. He speaks thoughtfully and sure knows his law, but allows both sides to argue to be fair. Today I think he almost reached the end of his rope, but that's ok, he is wonderful! I like him!

 

[ohiogirl]

I am going to go down one letter grade every time he makes a threat that he doesn't follow through on. Just sayin...

 

[Mamabear1963]

As a mom of 14 (yes all mine, no twins, same dad) 8 boys, 6 girls, 6 of those boys are 13-23 years old...I really sympathize with the man.

You know when you are 5' 2" and all of them are 5'10"- 6' 2" sometimes it feels like you have no teeth.

HHJP needs to be careful...he has guns he can use...BIG guns but he realizes that all eyes on this trial...he knows he is making Case history here that WILL be used down the road.

He MUST think about the following:

1) a fair trial for the defendant
2) a timely trial
3) the financial picture
4) cases that are coming in the future that will point back to his decisions
5) keep watching every single angle for appellant issues

That is a whole lot of balls to keep in the air if you ask me.

We are just looking at little corners and it is easy to judge him and think you know he could have done better here or there...

HHJP is looking at the big picture including all of the above...

As far as the AA woman (can't remember her number) I have a funny feeling she is going to be one JB will wish he had never seen. Just as I listened to her...I got the feeling that though she may not want to judge...well let's just say sometimes women like her can pack a huge punch...my Aunt Helen did...and maybe, just maybe HHJP is seeing some of the same things I am seeing.

Just sayin

 

[Blue Jackets fan]

As a mom of 14 (yes all mine, no twins, same dad) 8 boys, 6 girls, 6 of those boys are 13-23 years old...I really sympathize with the man.

You know when you are 5' 2" and all of them are 5'10"- 6' 2" sometimes it feels like you have no teeth.

HHJP needs to be careful...he has guns he can use...BIG guns but he realizes that all eyes on this trial...he knows he is making Case history here that WILL be used down the road.

He MUST think about the following:

1) a fair trial for the defendant
2) a timely trial
3) the financial picture
4) cases that are coming in the future that will point back to his decisions
5) keep watching every single angle for appellant issues

That is a whole lot of balls to keep in the air if you ask me.

We are just looking at little corners and it is easy to judge him and think you know he could have done better here or there...

HHJP is looking at the big picture including all of the above...

As far as the AA woman (can't remember her number) I have a funny feeling she is going to be one JB will wish he had never seen. Just as I listened to her...I got the feeling that though she may not want to judge...well let's just say sometimes women like her can pack a huge punch...my Aunt Helen did...and maybe, just maybe HHJP is seeing some of the same things I am seeing.

Just sayin

14 kids????? Wait till you have grandchildren.
I think you have an excellent point on all accounts. Remember, Judge Perry to my knoweage has never done a trial as big as Casey.
Compared to other Judges like Lance Ito (remember Jay Leno's "Dancing Itos)" and other judges who did high profile casses, Perry is doing an excellent job.

 

[Anais]

As a mom of 14 (yes all mine, no twins, same dad) 8 boys, 6 girls, 6 of those boys are 13-23 years old...I really sympathize with the man.

You know when you are 5' 2" and all of them are 5'10"- 6' 2" sometimes it feels like you have no teeth.

HHJP needs to be careful...he has guns he can use...BIG guns but he realizes that all eyes on this trial...he knows he is making Case history here that WILL be used down the road.

He MUST think about the following:

1) a fair trial for the defendant
2) a timely trial
3) the financial picture
4) cases that are coming in the future that will point back to his decisions
5) keep watching every single angle for appellant issues

That is a whole lot of balls to keep in the air if you ask me.

We are just looking at little corners and it is easy to judge him and think you know he could have done better here or there...

HHJP is looking at the big picture including all of the above...

As far as the AA woman (can't remember her number) I have a funny feeling she is going to be one JB will wish he had never seen. Just as I listened to her...I got the feeling that though she may not want to judge...well let's just say sometimes women like her can pack a huge punch...my Aunt Helen did...and maybe, just maybe HHJP is seeing some of the same things I am seeing.

Just sayin

MamaBear ITA with you. Most excellent post I might add. The DT has been nothing but uncooperative through the entire process and has done nothing but attempt to stall and delay since day one of jury selection. Thing is imo JB and DT will most certainly not be happy with HHJBP's next choice of jury selection if this fails. Rural areas and farm areas are extremely "conservative" and most usually DP pro-active. I have lived in three through out my life and this seems to be the trend there.:twocents:

 

[AlwaysShocked]

I am one of the 9 who voted "unsure". I honestly don't feel I know enough about the legal system to give a grade to this Judge.

However, why am I starting to detect a battle of egos between Judge Belvin Perry and his longtime friend (?) Cheny Mason?

 

[lowens1975]

If I could raise my grade higher I would...

Have I ever said I really, really like this judge?

Me, too. I've already said he deserves an "A", maybe an "A Plus" because of his tolerance of all that's going on in JS and he still thinks about the welfare and comfort of the jurors sitting out in the hall.

While he's here, I'd love to be able to say "I'd love to have you over for dinner, I have steaks grilling and a six pack of Smirnoff Ice".

He's extremely affable, I just adore him :great:

 

[AZlawyer]

Umm-:waitasec: re: (1) are you saying he should reverse his decision on THAT lady, and allow the SA to strike her?

Yes. But I don't think there's any chance he will do that.