I have been a resident of Lake County for 22 years. I have been summoned to jury duty countless times. Each time, I have responded and pledged, when called upon, to fulfill my duty without prejudice. I have committed to examine only the evidence presented when determining the guilt of the accused. On one occasion I was selected as a juror. The trial involved a Caucasian man accused of murder. The penalty phase of his trial involved the deaths of two additional victims. His victims were Caucasian as well. In spite of the fact that I too am a Caucasian, I didn”t find it difficult to see his culpability in his victims” deaths.
Should I be called upon to serve as a juror in the Hughes case, I would again, consider only the evidence. The race of the accused or the victims would not be a factor in determining guilt or innocence. In spite of his protestations that they have not assumed that all Lake County residents are racist, for Hanlon and the defense team to make the assumption that Hughes would not be able to receive a fair trial in Lake County is, in fact, to assume that the majority of Lake County residents are racist and ignorant.
Frederick Douglass said,”Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”
Let the jury selection process work. Both sides will have challenges for cause and peremptory challenges. There is no limit to the challenges for cause that either side can make. Every potential juror that the defense feels may be prejudiced should be excused. An impartial jury can be seated.
Marlena Leister
Clearlake
