1st Degree Murder...

Since arriving home from our youth group missions trip, we have continued to stay busy.

The week following our missions trip, I had jury duty. This was my first experience with the court system in North Carolina.

I arrived at the Mecklenburg Courthouse on Monday, August 20th. I waited all day long to be called. We were told that there were 3 trials going that were in need of jurors. Around 4:00 PM, my name, along with 24 others, was called.

The deputy sherriff escorted us to an empty court room where we were asked to fill out a very specific questionare. After we all finished, we were informed by the deputy sherriff that our "jury pool" was need in order to fill the last two "alternate juror" spots for a capital murder case! The defendant was being accused of 1st degree murder for allegedly shooting his wife and 1 year old daughter. We all thought that it wouldn't take too long to fill the last two spots. (We were told that the judge and lawyers had alreay gone through 180 potential jurors over the course of the past 5 weeks. We couldn't believe it!) One of the main reason is that the only two possible punishments for someone who is convicted of first degree murder, in the state of North Carolina, is either the death penalty or life in prison without parole. We also learned that, although in most other cases, the judge determines the punishment, in the case of 1st degree murder, the jury is responsible for also determining whether the individual is put to death or spends their life in jail.

What we thought would not take long took all the way until lunchtime on Wednesday. I was never questioned as a potential juror. However, had my name been called, I'm sure I would not have been chosen. I'll tell you why.

I strongly believe in the death penalty. That would not have kept me out of the jury. If an individual would tell the judge that they opposed the death penalty, he would ask, "Could you set aside your convictions and beliefs long enough in order to give the defendant a fair trial?" Each time the potential juror would say, "No." to that question. That made me think though and do some soul searching in the opposite direction. Allow me to explain.

The individual was on trial for and was accused of 1st degree murder which is cold-blooded, intentional murder. As I looked at the defendant I knew that I could give them a fair trial and assume their innocence until it was proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they were guilty. However, if they were convicted of 1st degree murder, I could not have even considered a punishment other than death. My belief in the Bible, particularly Genesis 9:6, leads me to believe that the punishment for such murder should be death with no other option (such as life in prison without parole). And, although I believe that we have the best form of government in the world, and the best system of courts and law (Yes, I know it is still flawed. It will be as long as their is sin in the world!), I could not set aside that Biblical conviction simply because the state of North Carolina asked me to.

Long post...I know...Hope you read it all.