Ashley Okland Murder

[Drew0311]

I have only had jury duty one time . They sat us in the box for an assault case, the defended walk in and I knew him. He actually got in a fight with someone I knew and he was charged with fighting some other guy in jail. They made me leave hah

 

[herbicide]

Mine was a civil trial where I actually knew one of the plaintiff’s attorneys. I still got picked…

Technically we/I ruled in favor of the plaintiff but the $ settlement amount was so low they basically worked for free.

So I suppose in the end I was impartial(?)

 

[CloneJD]

The murders at the holiday inn in Amana and those Oskaloosa kids who killed some random people in gibson were big deals at the time. Some interesting videos about them on you tube.

 

[Cypwr]

The Iowa murder that hits closest to home for me was ISU related. Dale Royer was a TA for one of my classes at ISU shortly before he started that house fire that killed his former professor's kids.

I was summoned as a petit juror for the 2nd trial of this case, that dude was really shifty.

 

[Cyforce]

I’m also assuming an Assistant AG will try the case rather than the Dallas County Attorney. So the AG’s office would have signed off on it as well- they’re not going to sign off on it unless they can prove the case.

I was playing a hs baseball game in La Porte City with helicopters flying overhead searching for James Tbone Taylor.

 

[AltoonaFish]

The murders at the holiday inn in Amana and those Oskaloosa kids who killed some random people in gibson were big deals at the time. Some interesting videos about them on you tube.

Jamie McMahon and Christopher Kauffman from Oskaloosa. Wild story.

 

[burn587]

Y’all in here wildly speculating on the motive really can’t wait another couple of years for everything to come out in the trial after waiting a couple of decades for an arrest?

 

[HOTDON]

Y’all in here wildly speculating on the motive really can’t wait another couple of years for everything to come out in the trial after waiting a couple of decades for an arrest?

Conference realignment rumors are pretty slow at the moment. This really came along at a great time for the site.

 

[dosry5]

Conference realignment rumors are pretty slow at the moment. This really came along at a great time for the site.

Are you saying CW knew who did it all along and waited for a slow period to tip off the police knowing it would drive traffic to this website? Thats brilliant!

 

[CloneFanInKC]

The issue in that case was I think the defense realized the trial wasn't getting moved and if they felt like you could be impartial they would have taken a deaf person. In a weird way I felt sorry for the defense team. They spent days and hours screening a few hundred of us.

And billed their client outrageous fees in doing so.

 

[aauummm]

I was almost to the point where I was just going to tell them I was racist. It was exhausting wasn't it? I mean we would spend literally the entire day down at the courthouse. I thought the first day just filling out the paperwork would be the end. Did not expect to actually have to take the stand like I was on trial. I think the defense team was mainly arguing they couldnt get a fair trial in Polk County which I actually agree with them regardless of how guilty he obviously was. On the stand I finally told them that id heard so much about the case from the news that my mind was made up he was guilty no matter how impartial I tried to be. The defense attorney was clearly annoyed. I think I missed 4 days of work for it.

One of the cases that I got called for was a civil lawsuit against some doctors, the hospital and a language interpretation company. After explaining the lawsuit, the lawyer for the guy suing asked us to be honest and would any of us not be able to take the case seriously. The guy and his wife that were suing were about 60 year-old foreigners who couldn't speak english.

The lawsuit was brought because the old gentleman wanted a circumcision and came out of the hospital with a vasectomy! LOL, true story!

I raised my hand when the suing lawyer asked that question. He asked me why I couldn't take the lawsuit seriously. I began my rant and the judge spoke up and said that she had a feeling where my reply was going and that she'd have to clear the courtroom of prospective jurors before I answered the lawyer's question. LOL, she didn't want me to poison the whole prospective jury pool.

After the courtroom cleared I proceeded with my rant. I used the term "frivolous lawsuit" a lot and the problem that professionals were having in obtaining affordable liability insurance because of lawsuits like this. I pointed out that this issue was personal to me being a professional engineer. The lawyer thanked me for being so honest, lol. It worked, as I was dismissed in the first cut.

 

[swiacy]

I was in a jury pool for an ugly property line dispute between two farmers. When asked if I could be impartial, I replied maybe. They then asked if I knew either of the farmers and I said yes, they were both neighbors that I shared property lines with. I was immediately dismissed.

 

[dosry5]

I just don’t understand why people want out of jury duty (unless it is truly an economic hardship). It’s a fascinating look at how the legal world works and it will open your eyes.

 

[aauummm]

I just don’t understand why people want out of jury duty (unless it is truly an economic hardship). It’s a fascinating look at how the legal world works and it will open your eyes.

My first case was an armed robbery in DSM with lots of witnesses. I enjoyed that one and got the close up look into the justice system. We convicted the guy after about 1/2 hour deliberation after we had recessed for lunch. The court had to call the judge back for the verdict as he was headed for the golf course.

 

[4cy16]

Y’all in here wildly speculating on the motive really can’t wait another couple of years for everything to come out in the trial after waiting a couple of decades for an arrest?

At my age, no.

 

[Drew0311]

I just don’t understand why people want out of jury duty (unless it is truly an economic hardship). It’s a fascinating look at how the legal world works and it will open your eyes.

I can answer this. You make like 5 dollars a day to sit there and listen to boring cases. It's not like TV where there is a "Gotcha" type moment. I am in sales and would lose a weeks worth of commision to sit and listen to it. Plus, sitting in a jury box for a couple week, depending on how long the trial is, is really tiring. I could do like a two hour trial before I went into Lala Land. I would be a horrible juror for a long trial.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Im optimistic they know who did it and are just waiting for certain DNA technologies to exist. You only get one shot to prosecute people. We are getting to the point where they can pull your DNA profile from almost just physically breathing at a crime scene from what was once a faint bit of moisture that only a specialized tool can detect. They are taking second looks at crime scene evidence that could only pull up a small genetic profile of someone 5 years ago and pinpointing them now. Body oils, microscopic skins flakes compared to blood, saliva, etc .. The main difference from even 5 years ago is that it was hard to pull DNA from anything that was degraded in any way. That's not the case anymore.

They know exactly who it is, they just can't get them placed at the wildlife preserve where they were found. Apparently already in prison for a long time but they'll get to where they can place the mastermind there.

They were going after Lyric because of her dad's drug issues and Elizabeth was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

[2122]

I just don’t understand why people want out of jury duty (unless it is truly an economic hardship). It’s a fascinating look at how the legal world works and it will open your eyes.

Jury duty got a buddy of mine laid. They've been married 30 years now.

 

[Cyclone06]

I just don’t understand why people want out of jury duty (unless it is truly an economic hardship). It’s a fascinating look at how the legal world works and it will open your eyes.

I dont know if this board is the place for this comment but... our country needs more rational level headed people on juries. If this is you, do not skip out or purposely get yourself removed.

If you wonder why insurance premiums are crazy, its because our juries are full of irrational, and even unintelligent people, and I assume many of whom don't have jobs so jury duty isn't a problem. These juries award astronomical sums of money "because we can stick it to the insurance company" or "insurance has enough money already" or "or maybe I can win this lottery one day too"

Please remember where the insurance companies money will come from... your pocket via all the premiums you pay!

 

[BCClone]

I can answer this. You make like 5 dollars a day to sit there and listen to boring cases. It's not like TV where there is a "Gotcha" type moment. I am in sales and would lose a weeks worth of commision to sit and listen to it. Plus, sitting in a jury box for a couple week, depending on how long the trial is, is really tiring. I could do like a two hour trial before I went into Lala Land. I would be a horrible juror for a long trial.

Not that it’s big pay, but it’s 30 instead of 5.