Sycamore Row - John Grisham

Jake said, “Judge, I’d like to renew my motion for a change of venue. Now that we’ve
interviewed the first thirty-eight jurors, it is apparent that, as a whole, this panel knows
far too much about this case. Almost every juror was willing to admit he or she had
heard something about it. This is quite unusual in a civil case.”
“Quite the contrary, Jake,” Judge Atlee said. “I thought they answered the questions
well. Sure they’ve heard about the case, but almost all of them claimed to be able to
keep an open mind.”
“I agree, Judge,” Wade Lanier said. “With a few exceptions, I’m impressed with the
panel.”
“Motion is overruled, Jake.”
“No surprise,” Jake mumbled, just loud enough to be heard.
“Now, can we pick our jury?”
“I’m ready,” Jake said.
“Let’s go,” replied Wade Lanier.
“Very well. I’m dismissing jurors number three, four, seven, nine, fifteen, eighteen,
and twenty-four for cause. Any discussion?”
Slowly, Lanier said, “Yes, Your Honor, why number fifteen?”
“He said he knew the Roston family and was deeply saddened by the deaths of their
two sons. I suspect he holds a grudge against anyone with the last name of Lang.”
“He said he did not, Your Honor,” Lanier argued.
“Of course that’s what he said. I just don’t believe him. He’s excused for cause. Anyone
else?”
Jake shook his head no. Lanier was angry but said nothing. Judge Atlee pressed on,
“Each side has four peremptory challenges. Mr. Brigance, you must present the first
twelve.”
Jake nervously scanned his notes, then slowly said, “Okay, we’ll take numbers one,
two, five, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen, seventeen, nineteen, twenty-one, and
twenty-two.” There was a long pause as everyone in the room looked at their charts and
made notes. Finally, Judge Atlee said, “So you struck six, thirteen, twenty, and twentythree,
correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Are you ready, Mr. Lanier?”
“Just a second, Judge,” Lanier said as he huddled with Lester Chilcott. They whispered
for a while, obviously in disagreement. Jake listened hard but could not decipher
anything. He kept his eyes on his notes, on his chosen twelve, knowing he could not
keep them all.
“Gentlemen,” Judge Atlee said.
“Yes sir,” Lanier said slowly. “We’ll strike numbers five, sixteen, twenty-five, and
twenty-seven.”
The air left the room again as every lawyer and the judge struck names from
makeshift charts and moved the higher numbers up the ladder. Judge Atlee said, “So, it
looks like our jury will consist of numbers one, two, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen,
seventeen, nineteen, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-six, and twenty-eight. Does