The jurors, who were each paid six bucks plus lunch, were not deliberating about guilt or innocence. They didn't even know what crime the woman was accused of committing. Their only duty this day was to determine whether she was, or eventually would be, mentally competent to stand trial. The jurors had studied evidence and listened to arguments presented by the assistant district attorney and the court-appointed defense attorney. I called the Harris County Auditor's office Thursday morning to find out the average pay for an assistant DA, and for others who work in the courtroom.
Defense gets a break The jurors also heard from a couple of expert witnesses.
One is a psychologist who works for the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority at Harris County Jail. This psychologist declared the woman competent to stand trial. Said that in making his evaluation, he spent about 45 minutes with her and he reviewed the police report of her alleged offense along with a couple of medical assessment forms filled out by the jail nursing staff. He said he also had someone observe the woman when she went to the restroom. The other expert witness also is a psychologist.