User Reviews

I may be slighted in my opinion due to my own medical background but in this episode, (as usual) Quincy was right. Dead right. I have to agree with the general premise of presentation of evidence, all evidence, being tantamount to reaching a fair outcome. And it ultimately happens here, as always.

Here we have an episode that is not your typical Quincy episode...the good doctor is summoned to jury duty, where he immediately becomes convicted, after hearing the prosecution's case, that the kid accused of murder is innocent. This really isn't new, as McGarrett went through the same scenario on Hawaii Five-O ("The Case Against Philip Christie"), and a few years later, Jessica Fletcher would get her turn at jury duty (the Murder, She Wrote episode "Trial By Error") and Ben Matlock after that (Matlock episode "The Juror"). We all know that the hero each time is going to upset the other members of the jury by sticking to their guns, eventually swaying the other jurors and clearing the innocent man...though the Murder, She Wrote episode has a very interesting twist at the end (you'll have to see it for yourself).

Quincy does what Quincy would do in a situation like this...being a royal pain, holding out for an innocent verdict, to the consternation of the judge (Joan Darling) and prosecutor (Sam Groom), but to the obvious delight of defense attorney Robert Alda. Klugman is entertaining as always, and while it's not classic Quincy, it's not unwatchable either.

Jury Duty begins with a young couple arguing in their car, the girl storming out and the boyfriend following her. The next morning she is found dead and the boyfriend stands accused of her rape and murder. As the case proceeds to trial, Quincy (Jack Klugman) is selected to be on the jury and continually interrupts the proceedings by asking a number of questions concerning the evidence much to the frustration of the prosecutor (Sam Groom) and Judge (Joan Darling). Drawing upon his experience in the coroner lab, Quincy believes the accused is innocent of the crime and is determined to prove it despite others trying to block his efforts and silence him.

First off, the opening sequence and set-up for this episode is nearly identical to the Season 5 episode "Nowhere to Run" where a couple argues in their car, the girl runs off with boyfriend going after her and later ends up dead with the boyfriend accused of murder. It was so similar that I thought I was watching that same episode over again and somehow the episodes got out of sequence, but no, I was just watching a completely recycled plot.

This and the fact that Quincy was selected for the jury rather than being eliminated during pretrial notions was complete nonsense. He would have been the first one cut due to his working relationship with the DA's office and expert knowledge being able to call into question the evidence submitted, but somehow he remains! Then we have a complete circus of a courtroom during the trial which the judge should have declared a mistrial on minutes after it started, but instead it drags on through nearly the entire episode.

While there is a murder and a mystery featured in this episode, it is so relegated to the background in favor of all the courtroom shenanigans that it is very difficult to enjoy. This along with a complete lack of credibility and originality in the set-up make for a very weak Season 6 entry which I do not recommend.

Quincy is on jury duty. It's a murder case and all during the hearing, the doctor makes a bit of a nuisance--asking questions and questioning the evidence. At one point, he even sneaks some items from the courtroom or order to determine if everyone is wrong about the case in question!

Years ago, I was a social worker in a prison halfway house and then a psychotherapist. I was called to jury duty several times but was soon dismissed from the jury pool. Why? Much of it is because the courts do NOT want professionals who might have expert knowledge on crimes or criminal behavior in the jury pool. They are looking for more 'blank slates'--the average person who does not work for the police, courts, prison system or therapists. They don't want a juror who wants to investigate the case themselves! So, in light of this, I was irritated by "Jury Duty", as I knew that there was absolutely no way that a coroner like Quincy would ever make his way onto the jury for a criminal case. It's even doubtful with his background that they'd have put him on a jury for a civil case (such as a lawsuit). Yet, somehow, we are expected to abandon common sense and accept this ridiculous premise.

This has to be the worst episode of Quincy in my opinion. There is no way in hell they would let Dr. Quincy be a juror, as a professional and hobnobber with other criminology professionals. And the overheard stuff in the bathroom to boot. His personal relationship with the judge. The whole thing is a crock and difficult to watch. And consulting with his buds, discussing the case all over. Removing evidence from the courtroom. Give me a break.

And on top of that the acting is way over the top. Quincy is his usual self, that's ok. The judge, DA, other jurors, it's just not an enjoyable watch without a huge suspension of disbelief.