I just finished watching every minute of the trial and reading all of your posts up through the verdict and saw a few I should have responded to but didn't...
The simple answer was no one made us leave. When I got there it was closed off. But after the jury went back to their room with their answer and the judge left no one really got up other than Terry and Morgan, some various court and attorney employees and the Moorers. I was prepared to go back out thinking we'd have to but no one with the court said anything so I just sat there and did my homework and wondered what you all were seeing/thinking. This was also the time I got to speak with Terry and convey our collective support.
It took EVERYTHING I had not to celebrate. I don't know if they showed on stream but we were warned to not show emotion at the verdict or leave.
This couldn't be helped and I'm sure y'all heard some of it. Bc there was a gentleman behind the Elvises crying so hard and basically everyone in those seats was in some stage of tears.
By the end of these 3 statements there wasn't a dry eye in the gallery. (That is what it's called right?) The one that killed me the most was Morgan. She tied it up into a neat and eloquent bow. I think she would make an excellent attorney.
A few side notes from that day:
- There was a LOT of teal in that room. A lot.
- I could tell the jury took it very seriously, and 7 of them did return for sentencing.
- I remember someone asking about someone in the courtroom talking to the baliffs, wearing a white sweater thing in the first week. I saw screenshots and didn't realize who it was then. She returned after the verdict and was chatting around and I was thinking to myself "who does this woman think she is acting like she owns the place..." Then she turned to speak with Terry and I realized it was our Clerk of Court! Renee Elvis. I remembered her from my jury duty, she was wonderfully funny and sweet.
- I left my cell phone in my car bc I was told we couldn't have them. Unsure of the validity of that now. Kind of wish I'd pushed it bc it was 90 degrees and I left it on and the sun was hitting my windshield... I think if the jury had taken 5 more minutes I'd have had no phone and no car.