In this two-part episode of Face the Jury, we explore the question, “What is jury duty like?” with former juror Dillon Diamond, a Latin teacher in Fulton County, who was selected as a juror in the case of Tim Jenkins v. Dr. Max Steuer, Dr. Richard Amerson, and Northside Emergency Associates, P.C. Dillon shares what it’s like to go through the jury selection process, hear and see the lawyers present the evidence, and deliberate over a life-changing case—one that ultimately resulted in a hung jury.
A Rare Perspective on the Jury Process
For many trial lawyers, jury selection and deliberation remain a mystery—what happens inside the jury room once the case is in their hands? On a recent two-parter of Face the Jury, Lloyd Bell does something that has rarely—if ever—been done on a legal podcast by inviting Dillon Diamond, a former juror in a medical malpractice case he tried, to share his unique perspective.
A Medical Negligence Case
The case at the center of the discussion involved Tim Jenkins, a patient who underwent spinal surgery to relieve pain in his neck but later developed a post-surgical hematoma. This complication happens when blood accumulates outside the body or blood vessels. After rushing to the ER, Tim did not receive timely imaging from his surgeon, Dr. Max Steuer, which led to paralysis quadriplegia and permanent neurologic deficits.
From Jury Summons to Selection
Dillon, a 27-year-old high school Latin teacher, received his jury summons with little expectation of being selected after hearing about his colleagues’ own experiences and commentary telling him not to worry about being selected. Like many others who ask, “What is jury duty like?” he was curious about what to expect. He still came prepared for selection by doing research on the voir dire process, where attorneys question potential jurors to determine if they will serve in a trial.
One of his biggest surprises was the sheer number of people involved in the process and the seriousness of the proceedings. Dillon found that the dynamic of being evaluated by lawyers on both sides felt almost like being picked for a team in school. Jurors, dressed in everyday attire, sat across from polished attorneys and legal teams. You could feel the weight of the moment. While some jurors openly expressed their reluctance to serve, Dillon took the opportunity to embrace his civic duty. He recognized the significance of the role he was stepping into and the case at hand.
Behind the Scenes: Opening Statements & The Jury Room
Once the jury was seated, the trial began with opening statements. Dillon noted that Lloyd’s use of compelling storytelling to create an emotional connection made an impact on the gravity of the case. He found the defense focused on their clients’ credentials and professional accolades as a tool to tell their “story” a bit more clinically.
During breaks, jurors engaged in small talk, but a noticeable shift occurred after emotional testimonies. “There was a heaviness in the air,” Dillon recalled. The jury dynamic evolved over time, with relationships forming and smaller groups developing—helped in part by a fellow juror bringing in donuts one morning that seemed to serve as a bonding moment.
Opinions in Deliberation
While Dillon remained open-minded throughout the trial, a pivotal moment came when an expert witness struggled to prioritize potential post-surgical complications clearly. Meanwhile, the defense’s emphasis on their expert witnesses’ prestigious backgrounds sometimes felt overly stiff compared to the human impact presented by the plaintiff’s case.
Eventually, after three weeks of testimony, deliberations lasted three days but ultimately ended in a hung jury (9-3) due to some jurors’ viewpoints on the proceedings that led to Tim’s injury. This highlighted a crucial challenge in jury selection—finding individuals open to discussion rather than those firmly entrenched in their views from the outset, which Dillon pointed out that it seemed there was no way to shift mindsets oftentimes.
Final Reflections
Dillon’s experience emphasized the civic responsibility of jurors and the unpredictability of deliberations even when you believe in your client’s case right to justice. His insights served as a valuable lesson for trial attorneys, helping them connect with jurors and understand the inner workings of how they may think during the trial process. Ultimately, his experience shed light on what truly happens inside the jury room.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What is jury duty like?” tune in to hear Dillon Diamond’s firsthand experience and gain insight into the jury process. His episodes can be found here . “Face the Jury” is a podcast dedicated to confronting the issues involving medical malpractice in America– what it is, how to spot it and how to protect you and your family from medical negligence.