Chapter 20 Going Home

The jury system in America is actually quite absurd, it allows a group of non-professionals to decide a person's guilt based on their own subjective impressions.

Especially in certain criminal cases, the verdict of the jury can even play a decisive role.

Whether in criminal cases or civil lawsuits, legally speaking, the jury system applies to federal and the majority of state laws.

However, the parties involved can also voluntarily request to waive the jury, but this requires the consent of the prosecution and the court.

Now for Peter, of course he would not give up using the jury system.

Just look at the public opinion outside, look at the tears of those ladies in the courtroom just now, it's simply the perfect moment for the jury to play its role.

As a local court, Youngstown's jury is composed of six members, who were just at some corner of the courtroom.

To protect the privacy and safety of the jury members, the list of jurors is not made public during each trial.

Therefore, everyone in the courtroom knows there is a jury, but who exactly they are is unknown.

However, these six jurors were all randomly selected from the electorate and in terms of identity, they were infinitely close to Peter, all ordinary working-class people.

Now that the trial has entered its final stage, Judge Sheryl Witt has also begun to gather the jury in her office for secret deliberations.

The jurors' deliberations are only conducted internally, excluding everyone, even the judge and the parties involved.

Of course, before the deliberations, the judge would inform the jury about the applicable substantive law and burden of proof.

But in Peter's case, it was obvious that everyone was overwhelmingly supportive of him.

For crying out loud, a second DUI automatically upgrading to a felony, who knows how that shitty law passed in the first place.

The jury members are human too, and most of them work in factories, liking to have a few drinks at the bar after work.

Whether they themselves had a DUI experience? None of the jurors would dare guarantee that.

So it took less than five minutes for the six jury members to reach a unanimous decision.

After exchanging their opinions with Judge Sheryl Witt, the jury foreman began to read the verdict in court.

Dean's eyes were tightly fixed on the front of the courtroom, and his aunt and Frank's hands were tightly clasped together.

Peter was staring intently at the lips of the clerk, and the audience in the courtroom quietly awaited the final outcome.

"After a unanimous vote by all jury members, we find Peter Price, not guilty!"

"Holy shit! I just knew it… I just knew it…" No one was more excited than Peter, he jumped up as soon as the verdict was announced.

But realizing that this was a court, in order to maintain his image, Peter forcibly swallowed the F-starting word that was about to come out next.

Rubbing his face, when he took his hands away from his face, Peter's eyes were once again filled with tears.

He turned around and opened his arms, silently looking in Dean's direction.

He was just too good at this!

Amidst the cheers and applause of the courtroom, Dean cried tears of joy, rushing forward to have a heartfelt hug with his dad.

"Mr. Price, I hope you remember everything your family has done for you today, and I hope you take this ordeal as a lesson," said Judge Sheryl Witt, who watched all this with a smile, not forgetting to admonish Peter.

She knew Peter wasn't so innocent, but seeing that he wasn't completely hopeless, and for God's sake, let it all go.

Federal law dictates that when all six members of the jury agree and render a not guilty verdict, the judge has no power to overturn it.

In addition, as the prosecutor, the district attorney may not appeal or pursue charges again, which is referred to as "double jeopardy prohibition" in the law.

So, the moment the jury foreman read out the verdict, Peter was once again a free man.

"Well done, son, you're damn right my pride! The most correct decision Caitlin and I ever made was that night in 1970!"

"WTF?" Dean, who was still hugging him, instinctively pushed his dad away.

"Don't worry, I won't forget what I promised you. I decide, tonight I'll take you to the Fatal Seduction bar to watch the girls strip dancing,"

"It seems in jail, dad, your charm wasn't able to be released." If not for the fact that he was his dad, Dean almost flipped him the bird.

"Your dad, any time, can awaken a man's instincts," boasted Peter as he hugged Dean's shoulders, waving down with a beaming smile.

The trial was finally over, and after completing the last of the paperwork and retrieving his belongings from prison, Peter could finally go home.

"Peter, you bastard!" Rachel, with red eyes, came up and gave him a fierce hug.

"Hey, Rachel, were you scared without your big brother around? Oh~ I almost forgot, you still have Frank."

Peter and Frank linked arms and patted each other's backs.

When they were kids living in the east of the city, Dean's grandma would go to work, leaving just Peter and Rachel at home.

Usually, as the older brother, Peter always played the role of protecting his younger sister Rachel.

"You should really thank Dean this time, you have a good son, Peter, I'm even a bit jealous." Rachel hugged Dean again and planted a fierce kiss on his forehead.

"Of course," Peter winked at Dean, as if to say "strippers."

After enjoying the joy of reunion, the family was eager to leave the court.

Especially Peter, he couldn't wait to get out of this godforsaken place and have a good drink to relax.

Speaking of drinking, Peter didn't have much to be afraid of now, since he couldn't drive anyway.

That's right, although Peter was acquitted, he couldn't escape the two months of alcohol treatment classes as a precaution.

The judge's intention was to help Peter get his life back on track, but Dean suspected that the monthly fee of 200 US Dollars for the course was the real focus.

During the period of alcohol treatment classes, Peter was temporarily not allowed to drive. Only after completing the course and passing the test would he be allowed to drive again.

Though it was an extra expense, compared to what everyone had originally braced for, it was already much better.

The group left the courthouse, and just then Wedner followed them out.

"Congratulations, Peter, on regaining your freedom."

"Wedner, you're a good lawyer!" Peter embraced him enthusiastically.

"Even though there's an acquittal and no more criminal record, remember, you still have to pay the fine in full. Owing money to the federal government can directly affect your credit score."

"Motherfucker, I've escaped the charges and prison, but I can't escape owing money to the federal government!" Peter cursed as he bid farewell to Wedner.

"Dean, Rachel, tonight I'm throwing a huge party!"

...

On the eve of Christmas Eve, at 1319 Charlotte Street, a grand party was underway.

"Happy birthday, Dean!" Aunt Rachel came in with a big box of cake topped with candles.

"Yo! Happy birthday!" Roger, Jerry, and the other youngsters also joined in the ruckus.

"Motherfucker, I thought we agreed to celebrate my release from jail?" Peter knocked his fork against the wine glass he held, looking quite aggrieved.

"Shut up, that was just incidental." Rachel glared fiercely at the wine glass in Peter's hand, forgetful after just one drink.

"OK, OK~ I knew you didn't care about me one bit." Peter swiftly conceded to keep his wine glass.

Ignoring Peter's complaints, Rachel and everyone else crowded around Dean. "Come on, Dean, make a wish and then blow out the candles. Starting tonight, you're an adult."

"Wow~ this is one special birthday." Watching the room full of people, Dean felt a warmth flow through his heart.

Some were his own family, others were neighbors from his street, and there were also high school friends from his past.

Now they were all gathered together, genuinely celebrating his birthday. For Dean, who'd spent a bewildering month in a new world, it was an extraordinary feeling.

Amidst the expectant looks from everyone, Dean made his last wish before adulthood, determined to live a carefree life from now on!

Whoosh~ The candles on the cake went out, and the wish soared into the starry sky outside the window.

"Yo!" The young people cheered, hugging Dean's shoulders.

"To strippers! To condoms!" Peter raised his glass and drank deeply.

After a month apart, Peter and Dean were once again residing at 1319 Charlotte Street.

Though they were moving out a week later, at least they'd spend Christmas 1988 in their own home.