A peek

Once I get a taste of something good, I’m no less than an addict...before you let your minds wonder off in weird directions, let me crystallize it -

I am talking about the good old American television. I have managed to finish 5 seasons of ‘The practice’ in just a couple of months and I am hungry for more...Even though the series is about a decade old, it gives away the workings of the American judicial system. And if I say, I am intrigued, it would be an understatement. The whole game between district attorneys, defense counsels, plaintiffs, defendants and the judge makes for a fabulous watch. But what really caught my eye and attention was the jury. Someone told me once that, "In America, most verdicts were decided in living rooms"

I didn't quite get it then but its becoming clearer like a sunny day in California. The fact that 12 jurors are randomly selected from the general population of America made me doubt the system as my first instinct...but as I read more into it, it seems ‘just’ to say the least. The fact that 12 heads rack their reasoning on the basis of evidence provided at the trial goes to show democracy at its best.

And the system works because its not easy to bribe 12 jurors to acquire votes and even if it happens, they are far and few in between...Trials are wrapped up in a few days tops and this expedited process is what makes the system work. The fact that most people fear being on the stand themselves at some point of their lives, they avoid cheating.

This is America, the system doesn’t spare anyone, whether you are Lindsay Lohan or a minister’s son...everyone gets the same treatment...One often hears of superstars being caught for DUI (driving under influence) and that reinstates my belief into the legal system.

Don’t get me wrong, it is far from perfect, it has got its loopholes but just like most products, systems and services are made, keeping the consumers’ best interest in mind, so is this one. It may backfire from time to time when murderers go free and walk away unharmed after committing a heinous crime only because there wasn’t enough evidence to convict or enough faith to convince the jury!

But all in all, after watching a few back to back episodes of the series, I am often left with a happy after-feeling.