Jurors have the responsibility of judging the facts in a criminal DUI case in Jacksonville, Florida and in any state. But how many jurors actually understand their role in the court room? Should jurors be allowed to make decisions regarding complex legal issues? Most of you reading this article have probably been summonsed for jury duty. And many of you understand that it is very difficult to leave your emotions and personal life events at the courtroom door. A juror in a DUI case must decide three things and only three things, which are as follows:
1. That the Defendant was driving or in actual physical control of the vehicle,
2. That while driving, or in actual physical control of the vehicle, the defendant was either:
a. under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or controlled or chemical substance to the extent that his normal faculties were impaired, or
b. had a blood or breath alcohol level of .08 or higher.
Many times when a DUI defendant in Jacksonville, Florida does not take the breathalyzer, the only way to prove a DUI has occurred is by examining a person’s “normal faculties.” Normal faculties are defined as the ability to hear, see, walk, talk, understand directions, judge distances, act in emergencies, and to normally perform the many mental and physical acts of our daily lives. Many times a jury will think, “well, he was PROBABLY drunk,” or “he MIGHT have had his normal faculties impaired or the police wouldn’t have pulled him over.” Not. True. A juror’s role is not to solve the case. A juror’s role is to decide whether the state has proven its case beyond any and all reasonable doubt. If a juror is thinking, “well, he PROBABLY did it,” then that is reasonable doubt.
In sum, a jurors role in DUI cases in Jacksonville, Florida is not to solve the case. The jurors role is simply to decide whether the Government has proven it’s DUI case in Jacksonville, FL beyond all reasonable doubt. If you have been arrested for DUI in Jacksonville, Florida, contact the Jacksonville, Florida DUI Attorney today.
