Recent Trials…

A little mouse of doubt - illustration Sarah Keen

Dear reader, thank you for your patience while I have failed completely to stick to my twice weekly updates.

I have excuses. I have many excuses. Here they are - one damn thing after another. Guests, Two deaths (dear elderly friends), Guests (singing), Babies, (excellent), Builders (damp) Guests (again), at least two volunteer events (one frightful), One interesting encounter with a dragon (of which more later) and finally jury service. Honestly my reader and all the while trying to free myself of a cough that has lasted for a month.

I have been longing, dear friend, for the small cool space of my office where I can paint and think. At last here I am. Door barricaded against all interruptions. Dog on sentry duty, bristling against all incomers or rather snoozing on the threshold causing a trip hazard rather than ferocious dog alarm. The only thing that will move her is a mysterious awareness of when her lunch is due. 12:30 pm sharp. Stop typing. Find fridge.

Anyway. Trial. No 1, In Court 2, or Court 7 - who knew we would jump around so much. Judge, kindly but shrewd. Patient directions to court. Prosecuting lawyer - (female) neat. Precise. considered. Long pauses after each point made. Point sinks in. Defendant: abstract in some strange fashion. As though nothing in the room was in any way related to him. Police not plodding but springing about like pointers. Defence Barrister (male) on sticky wicket but doing his best. Note that whenever his arguments are not altogether convincing he uses both his hands to lift his wig off his head by two inches. As though his wig was hiding a little mouse of doubts that he has to muffle on a regular basis.. Soon every third sentence is accompanied by the wig rising and then falling to squash the inconvenient creature that nibbles away at his version of events.

Jury: worried by wig. Try their very best to give defendant benefit of all doubt. CCTV footage joins with wig to aid decision. Decision is made.

Jury: exhausted. Afterwards a young jury member makes the following points- once we have been dismissed and were walking out into town.

Twelve diverse strangers from all walks of life have met in a hot, stifling room to carefully consider the fate of an unknown defendant in court. We did not always agree - yet we did not quarrel with each other. We listened. We respected everyone’s opinions. We worked conscientiously and very hard over the course of six hours to reach a verdict that considered all the evidence we were given. We had done our best for the defendant and the society in which we all live. We must not forget, said the young juror, that in a time where politics is trying to divide us, we can come together, respect each other and reach a decision that helps our community.

I am going to hang on to that thought. So in this unkind world, let’s guard our sentences. Keep an eye open for that wig - it will tell you when the speaker is not as convinced by his or her arguments as you may think. Faith in young people and our social structures, surprisingly restored.