Apr 18, 2006 6:36 pm US/Central
Oldest, Youngest Jurors Reflect On Ryan Trial
Opinons Differ On The Experience
by Mike Puccinelli
(CBS)
Defense attorneys for convicted former Gov. George Ryan are likely drafting an appeal, and questions about the jury will undoubtedly be a big part of the strategy.
CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli spoke with the oldest and youngest jurors about their experiences on the panel.
The jury's youngest member was willing to discuss what he described as the unreal experience of taking part in history.
The 22-year-old UPS worker admitted he was initially awestruck at the chance to sit in judgment of a former governor.
"I just feel honored to be a part of it, picked by the attorney and the judge. I know myself I did a great job listening to the evidence," James Cwick said.
But the oldest juror on the panel didn't emerge from the experience with the same seemingly sunny disposition.
Jesse Davis declined to go on camera but did make this brief statement saying: "I've had seven months of this. I'm tired to death of it. I'm 70 years old and I'm finished with it."
Davis also said he sat between the two jurors who were dismissed. He said they seemed like everyday decent people.
And he said the fact that they were kicked off for failing to disclose run-ins with the law just goes to show that there are things that happen that you just don't know.
Fifty years in age separate Ryan from Cwick, but he said he had no qualms convicting an old man of crimes that could send him to prison.
"It doesn't matter who it is and their age. If they commit the crime, and we find them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, then so be it," he said.
And he says reports of screaming and name calling in the jury room were, for the most part, exaggerated.
"Some people do get upset in there and come back and apologize. In my opinion, everything was done fairly in there," he said.
Neither juror wanted to talk about the allegations of the dismissed juror who said that some of the panel members weren't fair.
Cwick said he wanted to hear from other jurors before weighing in on the matter.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
