I was called and seated on a jury once in a stolen property case. We convicted him. He was driving a stolen car around town, but we could not convict on a weapons charge. A gun was found under the front seat, but that is where the car’s owner also kept it.
After the trial we found out he had a conviction in the neighboring county for the theft of the car. Our trial was only about possession of stolen property because he was arrested in our county.
I was really glad the trial I served on was not something heinous. I don’t think I would cope well with that. The defendant on the case I served on was pretty darn scary looking as it was. His mom testified and it was not helpful for him:
“He doesn’t have a key to my house any more.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I don’t want him to.”
Not a good look when your mama doesn’t trust you with the key to her house.
My husband was called on a paternity suit when he was 18! That was interesting. He was seated and had to serve. About 15-20 years ago he got called for the grand jury, but he was not seated.