幽默笑話精粹36：陪審團主席

　　A judge in a small city was hearing a drunk--driving case and the defendant, who had both a record and a reputation for driving under the influence，demanded a jury trial. It was nearly 4 p. m. and getting a jury would take time，so the judge called a recess and went out in the hall looking to impanel anyone available for jury duty. He found a dozen lawyers in the main lobby and told them that they were a jury.

　　一位小城市的法官正在處理一個酒后駕車的案件。被告曾經(jīng)有過酒后駕車的記錄，現(xiàn)在需要一個陪審團做出裁決。那時已經(jīng)是下午四點，找個陪審團來會浪費很多時間。所以，法官就宣布休庭，然后就去隨便找些人來充當陪審團。他正好發(fā)現(xiàn)在大廳里有十二個律師，就把他們叫來組成了陪審團。

　　The lawyers thought this would be a novel experience and so followed the judge back to the courtroom. The trial was over in about 10 minutes and it was very clear that the defendant was guilty. The jury went into the jury--room, the judge started getting ready to go home , and everyone waited.

　　這些律師們認為能做陪審團將會是個新奇的經(jīng)歷，所以就同意和那個法官回到了法庭。審訊十分鐘就結束了，因為很明顯被告是有罪的。接著，陪審團進行商議，法官做好了回家的準備，每個人都在等待著最后的結果。

　　After nearly three hours, the judge was totally out of patience and sent the bailiff in to the jury--room to see what was holding up the verdict. When the bailiff returned, the judge said，"Well have they got a verdict yet?

　　差不多三個小時以后，法官已經(jīng)等不及了，他派法警去看看陪審團是否做出了最后的判決。當法警回來的時候，法官問他:“怎么樣?他們做出了最后的判決沒有?”

　　The bailiff shook his head and said，"Verdict? Hell，they' re still doing nominating speeches for the foreman’s position!”

　　法警搖搖頭說:“判決?天哪，他們還在進行推選陪審團主席的演講呢!”