The seats are very uncomfortable. . . . But sometimes, there is exciting testimony, recalled a retired government employee who served on a federal grand jury several years ago that investigated, among other cases, allegations that then-Rep. One witness couldn't remember events from the previous day and was peppered with questions from skeptical jurors. During his two years on the grand jury hearing 80 to 90 cases, the former juror said he remembered only once when the grand jury did not agree with the prosecutor. That case involved undercover agents recording conversations among vendors about the illegal sale of food stamps.
Prosecutors say they can often gauge the credibility of the witness by the jurors' questions.
After they've heard from a number of witnesses, they're pretty savvy. The citizens of the city, they know what's going on.