It happens twice a year in Alexander City and twice a year in Dadeville — criminal jury trial terms.
There are judges, circuit clerks, investigators, witnesses, defendants and the attorneys — who sometimes can be numerous. Presiding Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Ray Martin called someone else who is often overlooked as crucial to the entire court system.
“You are a very important part of the process,” Martin told possible jurors in Dadeville Monday. “Without you the process of trial by a jury of peers would not work.”
The process starts with Tallapoosa County Circuit Clerk Patrick Craddock sending out notices to those called for jury duty.
“We use voter registration lists,” Craddock said. “We used to use driver’s licenses but so few people update their address on those. We had so many return when we used licenses but its not so bad with voter registration.”
Prospective jurors still have to show up and Monday Martin methodically “qualified the jury venire.” First, making sure jurors live on the Dadeville side of the Tallapoosa River since it is the dividing line between two of the five sub districts of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
“There are five courthouses in four counties,” Martin told the possible jurors.
One juror was automatically excused when it was discovered the prospective juror lived on the west side of the river in Daviston.Tallapoosa County has two courthouses in Alexander City and Dadeville. The other courthouses in the Fifth Judicial Circuit are in Chambers, Macon and Randolph counties.
After the first qualifications were made, 53 Tallapoosa County residents remained. Of those, 26 were male and 27 male; 35 were married, 18 said they were not married, divorced or separated; 41 were employed, 12 retired and one unemployed, three were retired educators and one was currently an educator; and 19 had adult children living in Tallapoosa County.
Martin also called the docket Monday calling roll of 67 possible defendants for the term — 53 were present or accounted for but 14 were not. Martin issued writs of arrests and conditionally revoked the bond of the 14 absent from the courtroom. Not all defendants will be called for trial. Depending on the length of the case, only five to seven defendants will see cases tried in the two week term.
Alexander City is currently in its second week of a criminal jury term with Judge Issac Wharton presiding. The criminal jury term in Dadeville will continue through next week.
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through evidence and testimony presented at trial. Martin asked if any of the jurors would be prejudiced against a defendant accused of sexual abuse. Nine responded they couldn’t be impartial and Martin dismissed them until later in the week.
District attorney Jeremy Duerr asked questions about anyone knowing him or his staff and a defendant and witnesses related to a case. Defense attorney Tom Goree got a chance too.
“It’s our chance to get to know you a little,” Goree said. “How many of you know someone on this panel?”
About 40% of the juror pool rescinded knowing at least one other person in the courtroom in Dadeville Monday.
Of the remaining 44 potential jurors, six were kin to law enforcement and one was a retired law enforcement officer. Fourteen had served on a jury previously.
Martin said the entire process is meant for attorneys for both the state and the defense to pick an impartial jury to try a case.
One potential juror was concerned about parking around the courthouse. It was explained with the rain they parked in a spot marked for parking up to two hours and two hours were nearly up. The question didn’t phase Martin a bit and even gave him a chance to reiterate the importance of the potential jurors.
“Our police chief [Jonathan Floyd] says you’re good; I say you’re good,” Martin said. “I appreciate you and your service. Your car won’t be towed.”
