In this special episode, I’m going to depart briefly from my regularly scheduled episodes for a political rant and a confession. This is an open letter to the judicial system of the United States of America at all levels federal through local.

Hi, this is Chris Young. Welcome to episode 62, a very special episode of Contemplating Life.

I’m going to depart briefly from my regularly scheduled episodes for a political rant and a confession. The title of this episode is “I’m a Coward.”

This is an open letter to the judicial system of the United States of America at all levels federal through local.

I was raised to appreciate our government deeply and am proud of our justice system in this country–especially the right to a trial by jury. I have always considered it an honor, a privilege, and part of our sacred civic duty to serve on a jury. Unfortunately, the severity of my disability decreases my stamina to the extent that whenever I have been called for jury duty I have had to decline to accept that honor. It has been a great disappointment not to have been able to participate in our government in such a capacity.

I’m writing the script on Monday, April 15, 2024, the day when jury selection began in a criminal trial of our former president. While I don’t live in that jurisdiction, I wondered what my response would be should I ever be called to serve as a juror in that case or any of the other civil or criminal cases or as a potential grand jury member in a case involving that particular defendant.

As I fantasized about what would happen if I were in voir dire in such a case, I discovered something quite disturbing about myself. I would have to address the court in a statement somewhat similar to this…

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Your Honor, I am sorry to report that I cannot be an impartial juror in this case or any other case involving this defendant.

I love my country. I am a patriot. I consider it a solemn civic duty as well as an honor and a privilege to be a member of any jury. I have always believed I could be impartial in any conceivable case despite any possible bias I might have. I see myself as a logical, critical thinker who can separate emotions and biases from decision-making.

I am staunchly opposed to the political policies of the defendant. Yet I am confident I can put those feelings aside and render an impartial verdict.

I abhor the public conduct of the defendant including but not limited to his disrespect for the military and the brave veterans who serve in it as well as their families, his disrespect for disabled people, his disrespect for women, and his disrespect for immigrants or potential immigrants. Yet I am confident I can put those feelings aside and render an impartial verdict.

I abhor the defendant’s blatant disrespect for our public institutions including but not limited to his disrespect for the FBI, our intelligence services, our free press, and his disrespectful abuse of Christian theology. Yet I am confident I could still put all of those feelings aside and render an impartial verdict.

Given all of those biases against the defendant, if the prosecution fails to make its case against him, I would sadly have to render an acquittal no matter how personally disappointing I might find it.

The problem comes if the prosecution makes its case and I would have to give a guilty verdict. With all due respect to the court, I do not trust that my identity could remain anonymous should I serve on this jury. I believe that inevitably somehow, my identity would become public knowledge.

I have credible fear that the defendant himself would attack me on social media. This would bring about more attacks from his supporters including other politicians, lawyers, and his cult of personality followers.

The defendant has shown repeatedly that he will show no restraint whatsoever in ruining the lives of people who stand in the way of his quest to lead this country into fascism with him as its supreme leader for life.

It is a matter of public record that many people including those who had former political ties to him and have been in the past his supporters as well as ordinary innocent citizens simply serving their country dutifully as election workers and other government activities… these people have fallen victim to the defendant’s attacks and attacks from use supporters.

Should I serve on this jury and render a guilty verdict, I would be risking my life and my way of life as well as putting at risk my friends and my family.

I’ve never been eligible for military service because of my disability. While I abhor war, I would like to think that were I able, I could sacrifice my life for my country. But apparently, that belief in myself is ill-founded. I am not willing to risk my life to bring to justice this despicable human being who represents an existential threat to our democracy as serious or more serious than any foreign enemy we have ever faced. I would more likely testify against a Mafia boss than I would cross this dangerous defendant and become his target.

Should the prosecution make its case, I would feel undue pressure to vote for acquittal to protect my life and livelihood from the onslaught of attacks I would receive should I be complicit in his conviction. Therefore I am incapable of being an impartial juror in this case or any other case involving this defendant.

I am deeply ashamed but I am a coward. And I realize in admitting that, and knowing that there are probably other people who feel exactly the way I do, that the defendant has already done significant harm to the country I love.

May God help us all.

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So that’s it. That’s what I would say if I were sitting in a New York courtroom today under voir dire to serve on a jury in the case titled “The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump” submitted March 30, 2023. Charge: First-degree falsifying business records (34 counts). Citation IND-71543-23.

A brief update… Although I wrote the script on Monday the 15th, the day that jury selection began, I’m recording it on Thursday the 18th. Initially, on Tuesday they had selected 7 jurors. But one of those jurors has already backed out and another one is likely to. Even the people who initially said they could be impartial in this case are having second thoughts about whether or not they want to be involved at all. The personal cost to them may be too just as it would be for me.

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I will see you next week as we continue contemplating life. Until then, fly safe.