Two Days in Superior Court One

by Phillip D. Reisner

Overview

I wrote this book of narratives and poems for you, your consideration, and your help in preserving our wonderful republic. It seems like we are presently engaged in an important government and society change. It also seems like many aspects of our way of life are being turned upside down. The whole world seems like a scary place to presently live. It’s almost like the world is on the brink of revolution in one form or another. I hope this book puts a bit of reality into how the United States of America was founded and why we the people must return to constitutional fundamentals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781490772745
Publisher:	Trafford Publishing
Publication date:	04/22/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	388
File size:	8 MB

Read an Excerpt

Two Days in Superior Court One

---

By Phillip D. Reisner

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2016 Phillip D. Reisner
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4907-7273-8

---

CHAPTER 1

Waiting To Serve

May 20, 2014 - 7:15

I got a letter on May 12, 2014 requesting my presence at the county courthouse to possibly serve on a jury in Tippecanoe County Superior Court 1. My request letter gave a phone number to call to learn if the trial would take place. I was excited and couldn't wait to make the call. The clock moved slowly while I waited until after 4:30 pm to call and get final instructions for appearing or not at the courthouse. I called and heard that indeed the trial was scheduled. I was told through the phone message when and where to appear. I didn't sleep very well that night before appearing and got up early. I ate breakfast, showered and sat waiting for the slow moving clock to display 7:15 am. It finally clicked to the 7:15 mark, my calculated time to leave the house. I crawled into my Cherokee Jeep and headed for the Tippecanoe County Courthouse located in downtown Lafayette, Indiana.

The legal questionnaire received in 2013 required answers to questions about many aspects of my life so that someone at a later date might have a profile of experience, education, beliefs and character. It apparently provided the chance for me to finally serve on a jury.

I anxiously drove towards the designated jury parking lot. I remembered passing the lot when cutting through from 2nd Street to head south on 3rd Street. It used to be covered with white rock and had a small sign that was difficult to read. I wasn't sure its use in the past. It, however, had been newly paved and had a large brightly painted sign that read "Jury Parking Only."

It had clean white parking space stripes. Most of the spaces were already taken by the time I arrived. I was worried about being late, but was reassured after checking my Jeep clock. I leisurely walked towards the courthouse which was three blocks away.

A few other people were walking in my direction; some coming from the jury parking lot, probably heading for the same place as me. Several of us lined up near the two modern metal courthouse doors that contrasted greatly with the old courthouse stone and concrete surrounding them. They opened to a physical inspection point operated by a Tippecanoe County deputy sheriff who stopped and checked everyone entering the courthouse.

I stood for a several minutes outside the courthouse waiting with other people until 7:45 am, the time allowed to enter the courthouse.

I had plenty of time to think about the Forefathers who prophetically wrote about my presence here in the courthouse long ago. I never realized their brilliance until studying the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. They knew I would someday be in this place, doing this thing. The Declaration of Independence reads as follows.

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes of which impel them to the separation."

It continues to read:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness--"

Fifty-six courageous men who signed the Declaration of Independence were from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Jefferson wrote the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy was certainly not new. It went back in time to Aristotle and John Locke, but Jefferson summarized the "self-evident truths" or the real grievances against the King of England. I sort of felt like Jefferson was standing in line with me there at the courthouse entry to be security cleared.

The Founders predicted and insured their wisdom through divine guidance. I sensed their presence, nearly heard their words and faintly saw parts the Constitution in my mind as I waited to help execute justice.

I remembered a person is presumed innocent and must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The idea of deciding someone's guilt or innocence weighed heavy on my mind because another's life might soon be in my hands; another's freedom might be at stake if I was chosen for jury duty. I was there in that place because freedom is the foundation of our American way of life. I thanked the Lord for living in the United States of America.

I reflected about being at home, recalling those glorious words "We the People" while looking at the American flag situated outside my living room window.

I habitually sat in my big Lazy Boy chair, it was my office; from there I watched TV, listened to music, emailed and wrote. That was where a free American mind consistently got expressed by way of a marvelous writing computing tool. I routinely thanked God there in that Lazy Boy chair for my precious eyes, hands and brain that allowed me to write.

My mind jerked back to reality when someone loudly said, "Next." I took everything out of my pockets and removed my belt for scanning before passing through the magnetometer.

Some people had to remove their shoes. I passed through security without a problem, and quickly re-looped my belt after collecting wallet and keys.

I headed towards the second floor by way of steps to my left after the security check. There was an elevator available, but I preferred the steps, suspecting the need for exercise due to probably sitting during much of the day. I had no idea how a jury was selected, but knew there were many people who went through security, most of whom were surely there for jury selection. I passed four sculpted replicas of noted people in Tippecanoe County history like John Purdue and Tecumseh.

Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee Indians and an influential person in Tippecanoe County. He settled in Prophetstown, just north of Lafayette. I couldn't help but think about his impact on the community when I saw him immortalized in stone there in the courthouse. His face showed resolve. I had resolve.

I walked onward through a wide hall decorated with stone, wood and plaster. The original metal elevator moved up and down to my left. It was hard to believe the building was over a hundred and thirty years old. It took three years to construct it with evident skill and precision. It yet looked nearly new. I was impressed with the building, how well it had been maintained and complemented with paintings and sculptures.

I cleared the first set of stairs made of granite slabs complemented by pinkish granite stairwell walls. There was a wide second floor expanse at the top of the stairs that displayed more paintings. I stopped to look at the artist's name on one of the paintings; it was painted by the same person as a painting at home. No wonder I liked it. I liked the artist's work a couple years earlier. at the Art Around the Fountain art show held every summer on the courthouse square.

Looking further into history caused me to think more about the Constitution. Everything around me gave a better understanding of my inherited life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Freedom surely seeps into one's soul.

Our founders didn't gain a republican philosophy easily or overnight. It was in the making for a couple thousand years. Our Forefathers didn't come up with the idea that a natural human being could rule himself or herself on their own. The idea was not new, but the act of making it possible was innovative. Thank God for the United States of American and all those who have made it possible. It is up to us to keep the philosophy going.

We are obliged to exercise our freedom. Too bad people aren't required to be well informed and vote, but then I guess we have the freedom to vote or not vote. We deserve who we vote or don't vote into office. Our continuation of freedom is based on a limited number of people voting because the majority of citizens don't vote. It's a real shame more people don't vote.

Well, forty-seven people had been summoned to potentially serve on a jury. I heard somewhere that one has to vote in order to be selected to serve on a jury. I didn't know if that was true.

I continued to observe the beautiful courthouse with its Neoclassic Architecture. More paintings hung on every hallway representing several local and regional artists. I took a left turn on the third floor where Superior Court One was located and recognized another person's painting I had at home. I apparently have good taste in art.

I continued to be inspired by the courthouse; beginning to imagine what the courtroom would look like. My mind gathered historical symbolism and potential.

I reasoned the courtroom would follow the same theme of oak carved wood as in the grand courthouse halls and doors. Engrossing history moved from one observation place to another and to one floor to another. Even the hinges on the huge oak doors were forged decorative iron. They had to be sturdy in order to hold the heavy weight of thick oak doors for a hundred and thirty years and beyond.

I perpetuated history by acknowledging existence of the place, and if chosen to serve on a jury, I would make history by participating in the judicial process conducted in the building. I felt blessed with aware eyes and mind. I paused to look upward through two levels of courthouse rotunda to see a decorative glass dome that allowed sunlight to filter through to the first floor.

Some people were waiting for hearings and some for trials. No one smiled or joked; it was a serious place. I was serious myself, thinking about what might happen and guessing about how it might happen.

I had plenty of time to get to where I belonged. I had given myself time to drive to downtown, walk to the courthouse, pass through a metal detector and climb two sets of stairs. I left phone and thus clock in the Jeep; my internal clock said I had plenty of time.

I walked through and into a different world, a world of architectural design and construction not applied today. Every county in the State of Indiana had a beautiful courthouse built at the county seat. I pleasantly thought about those courthouses, wishing a picture of each.

I continued to stroll left, finally being directed by a sign that read "Jury Duty." Another similar sign pointed towards a room outfitted with a large table surrounded by chairs. Other chairs were placed on the room's perimeter. Several people were there waiting for further instructions.

I couldn't help but think about ugliness, sorrow and guilt, and about beauty, joy and innocence that had occupied this wonderful place since 1884. A lot of work went into courthouse construction. A lot of work got accomplished during its many years of prominent existence.

People kept arriving, taking a seat and speaking little; they all seemed to be in a zone while waiting for further instructions. I guessed most didn't know what was about to happen. Thirteen people didn't show and there were forty-seven of us who did follow the summons to appear. Those thirteen people were surely in trouble. The law requires people to appear for jury duty and serve the community if summoned.

We waited for nearly an hour. The bailiff finally arrived and introduced herself, collected names and jury appointed numbers. I was tentatively summoned as jury number 191. She finished explaining what was about to happen, then called out the first thirteen people who would enter the jury box for questioning by the prosecuting and defense attorneys.

I was temporarily declared as juror number five, taking that as a good sign of being selected; thinking early selection was probably based on the previously mailed survey. I guessed someone thought I was a good choice for the jury. We lined up in a row of thirteen, one person being the alternate, and waited for the bailiff to say "All rise."

We walked single file into the courtroom, past two tables designated for prosecution and defense lawyers, and the defendant. We finally stepped into the jury box and continued to stand until the judge said "You may be seated."

I anxiously sat in a place thought about for a very long time. I was in that seat seen on TV, read about in the newspapers and dreamed about at night. I was in a new place of responsibility. I was not in school learning, Navy spying or classroom teaching; I was where Thomas Jefferson and the Founders had constitutionally designed. It was where lives got changed, ruined or reprieved; where a person might remain free or have liberties dismantled.

I was in a place of deeply held respect, where all stood when I entered and where my final opinion was very important. I was an unimportant person made important by sheer presence. It required all to do something important, made important by Thomas Jefferson a long time ago.

I was born unimportant to the world in Terre Haute, Indiana and lived there for twenty-three years until going to Bremerhaven, Germany to serve in the Navy for two years. I lived and taught school in Crawfordsville, Indiana for thirty years until meeting Deborah Bennett, then moved to Lafayette, Indiana. I was a Hoosier for sure, pretending to be a Floridian on two occasions, but it never stuck.

Debi and I had vacationed in Florida during the winter for a few months for several years, but that didn't make me a Floridian. There wasn't a Florida license plate on my truck to match the Florida boat plate. I continued as a lifer in Indiana and expected to die in Indiana. I felt very Hoosier-like sitting in the jury box with fellow Hoosiers. The Indiana seal seen earlier on the third floor depicting an 1816 environment kept flashing through my mind while Thomas Jefferson's ghost whispered to my Hoosier soul.

    Unique Idea

    Upon a
    foundation,
    I shall
    build a
    house of
    integrity and
    beauty,
    where I shall
    live freely and
    find security.
    Block by block,
    wall by wall,
    shingle by shingle,
    I shall
    work
    my hands and
    mind until
    task is completed.
    Warm sun
    shall penetrate
    my windows,
    gentle rain
    shall caress
    my roof, and
    I shall
    rejoice with
    my brothers.
    And to think,
    it all
    began with an
    idea in
    my unique
    mind.

Sought Truth

Through
ship portholes
men witnessed
wisdom and
gained meaning as
insight fostered
natural truth
while sailing an
alien ocean.

Hope resided
within past,
present and
scary future, and
composed
everything anew,
intoxicated
necessity and
blinded restraint.

Pilgrims sought
tomorrow as if
already knowing
truth today,
found born
again reality
thriving,
thus tended
to tomorrow.

Time weighed
even less than
thought and
both moved at
light speed,
ideas changed,
got renewed and
sought
natural minds.

And through
purely discovered
mind windows,
placed and
glazed with insight,
they perceived
freedom clearly
by thought and
reasoning.

Forefathers got
new meaning,
awareness and
natural truth
through mind
portholes that
pilgrims planted
three hundred
years earlier.


Predestined

We gathered
often and long,
discussing what
kind of wall
to build, and
from deliberations
came ideas that
seemed predestined,
for we agreed on
nearly everything.
Certain truths
were evident.
Beauty arose and
all were pleased at
construction's end.
Our plan served
intentions and
requirements.
We felt secure
within our
raised walls of
will and design.
A collection of
new ideas
brought hope and
faith to an
effective system.
Consensus meant
obligation and
obligation meant
responsibility.
We were united.

(Continues...)

---

Excerpted from Two Days in Superior Court One by Phillip D. Reisner. Copyright © 2016 Phillip D. Reisner. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Table of Contents

Contents

Preface, v,
Introduction, xix,
Chapter I - Waiting To Serve, 1,
Chapter II - Being Selected, 47,
Chapter III - Judge's Instructions, 83,
Chapter IV - Courtroom, 117,
Chapter V - Presenting Case, 155,
Chapter VI - Witnesses, 183,
Chapter VII - Deliberation, 211,
Chapter VIII - Burden of Proof, 255,
Chapter IX - Hung Jury, 289,
Chapter X - Forefathers Intent, 329,
Conclusion, 363,
About the Author, 365,