Jury Duty Isn’t Like Listening to a Murder Podcast
Let’s talk about why that is
Before we begin, let’s get something out of the way right from the jump: I listen to true crime podcasts, I watch Law & Order: SVU marathons on USA with my spouse, and I peruse the Citizen app on my phone. I’m not judging anyone for giving in to dark and morbid curiosities.
However, as a true crime consumer who interacts with others in the true crime space, there is something that I think gets lost in the business this genre has become: There is a stark difference between listening to a host recount a stranger’s true crime experience, and actually being involved in the dealings around a crime. Giggly podcast hosts and pun-filled re-enactments can make true crime stories feel less dark than they truly are. It’s easy to miss the intensity of the heartbreak, terror, and gore when you’re cleaning the house while listening to someone cover a survivor’s tale.
In 2022 I served as a juror on a murder trial. I’d never even had to appear at the courthouse to answer my jury summons before, so I had no clue what to expect. The first bit was easy: I was called into a courtroom with dozens of other potential jurors, briefed on the fact that we’d be hearing a criminal murder case, and went through the slog of jury selection.
