A diverse mix of people with one goal in mind

THE seven men and five women who held the fate of Michael Jackson’s doctor in their hands are a diverse cross-section of Los Angeles, people of varying ethnicities from different towns who might never have met if they had not been thrown together in the jury pool.

They are white, black and Hispanic, mostly middle-aged and live in an assortment of suburbs. Most have children and some have grandchildren.

They include a professor, postman, bus driver, actor and movie animation supervisor.

Nine have prior jury experience and one woman, a native of Spain, has served on five juries. A woman who worked as a paralegal for 30 years is serving on her first jury and appeared enthralled.

They knew about the involuntary manslaughter charge against Dr Conrad Murray before they came to court and most know Jackson’s music. A few said they were fans and one, the video animation specialist, said he had some interaction with Jackson when the singer was making Captain EO.

Their identities have been kept secret and even lawyers know them only by their jury numbers.

In six weeks together the jurors displayed uncommon attentiveness to the task at hand. Several took notes and kept lists of evidence. Once, when the judge was at a loss to find the number of an exhibit, a member of the jury spoke up and told him.

Their attention impressed Superior Court judge Michael Pastor, who commended them for their commitment, punctuality and willingness to give up their personal lives to serve.

Every night, when he gave them an admonition to avoid the news, the internet and other sources of information about the trial, they listened as if it was the first time they had heard it and nodded in agreement.

Many of the jurors have a familiarity with prescription drugs; most said they trust their doctors and several believe celebrities receive a different kind of justice.

Some learned about the justice system from TV, watching shows such as Law and Order and CSI. Others watched broadcasts of real-life, high-profile trials including the Casey Anthony case and OJ Simpson trial.

The jurors also had a chance to bond because they were kept together for lunch and transported together between a secret car park and the courthouse.

But during lunches and coffee breaks there was one thing they could not discuss — the trial.