변호사들로만 구성된 배심원단 (A Jury Full of Lawyers)

변호사만으로 구성된 배심원단

[번역: 일수거인 090401]

어떤 소도시의 판사가 한 음주운전 사건을 심리하고 있었는데, 음주운전으로 전과와 악명이 자자한 그 피고가 배심재판을 요구하였다.

오후 4 시 가까운 시각이라 배심원단을 소집하려면 시간이 많이 걸리게 생겨서, 판사는 휴정을 선언하고, 배심원으로 쓸만한 사람들을 찾아보려고 복도로 나왔다. 그는 로비에 12 명의 변호사들이 있는 것을 발견하고 그들에게 배심원단이 되어줄 것을 요청하였다. 변호사들은 이것이 새로운 경험이 될 것이란 생각에 판사를 따라 법정으로 갔다.

10 분쯤 후 심리가 끝났는데 피고가 유죄인 것은 뻔한 사실이었다. 배심원단이 배심협의실이 들어가자, 판사는 퇴근 준비를 시작하고, 모두들 기다렸다. 근 3 시간 후, 판사는 참다못해 집행관을 배심원실에 보내서 무엇 때문에 평결이 지연되고 있는지 알아보게 하였다.

집행관이 돌아오자, 판사가 말했다, "그래 배심원단의 평결이 나왔습디까?"

집행관은 고개를 가로저으며 말했다, "평결요? 그들은 아직도 배심단장을 뽑기 위한 후보연설을 하고 있는뎁쇼!"

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A Jury Full of Lawyers

A judge in a small city was hearing a drunk-driving case and the defendant, who had both a record and a reputation for driving under the influence, demanded a jury trial.

It was nearly 4:00 p.m. and getting a jury would take time, so the judge called a recess and went out in the hall looking to impanel anyone available for jury duty. He found a dozen lawyers in the main lobby and told them that they were a jury. The lawyers thought this would be a novel experience and so followed the judge back to the courtroom.

The trial was over in about 10 minutes and it was very clear that the defendant was guilty. The jury went into the jury room, the judge started getting ready to go home, and everyone waited. After nearly three hours, the judge was totally out of patience and sent the bailiff into the jury room to see what was holding up the verdict.

When the bailiff returned, the judge said, "Well have they got a verdict yet?"

The bailiff shook his head and said, "Verdict? They're still doing nominating speeches for the foreman's position!"