Jury Duty

The reason I have been a 'less than' blogger recently is because last Monday I had Jury Duty. It had been rescheduled 2 times prior to last Monday. I was chosen as Juror #12, the only woman out of 11 other men. The clincher...it was an Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child case...Oh by the way, I have an 8 month old! I was upset that I, Amber would have to serve on a Jury for one, and secondly what are the odds that this would be the type of case...Once I resigned to the fact that I had to serve, was chosen, etc...we proceeded. Oh, and I was elected Jury Foreman! We finished today and sent the (.......) to prison for 65 years. He was found guilty on all 9 counts also. I am now proud and in fact honored to have served on that jury. I cannot tell you the euphoria I felt having the victim come up to us and thank us in tears for believing her. Her family failed her in believing her, the system to an extent failed her in believing her, but 12 strangers chose to let her voice be heard. I felt wonderfully relieved to have given her a voice and to see the monster that did these crimes (her father) be led away to prison. It is one of the hardest things I've ever been chosen to do. I just kept picturing Caden as well as all the children out there that are not 'believed' or do not 'have a voice' and are having these crimes committed against them with no way out. Anyway, off my soapbox, I will try to be a better blogger now, but that experience gave new meaning to the words 'mentally draining'.