more court stuff

these chapters did a lot for me...such as reaffirm my decision that i do not want to do reporting within the world of law. some of the 'stuff' i just don't get.
although i don't get it, reading these chapters was, and will be beneficial. i like to have some knowledge about a subject, no matter what it is.
i actually remember asking my parents a few days ago what the difference between a misdemeanor and felony was. they couldn't really tell me except that one was worse than the other. now i know that with a felony, you have a minimum of one year in jail, while with a misdemeanor, it is a maximum sentence.
something else that caught my attention were the two different aspects of news found in court reporting: 1) when parties are known to the public, 2) when factual and legal issues are of public interest. yet, it makes me wonder, where is the line between what is and what isn't public interest? and who decides that?
as was the case with chapters 1,5, and 7, there are just so many things in these chapters that i never knew before. like the differences between circumstantial evidence and direct evidence (which is something i felt like i should know, but definitely didn't). or what a closing and opening argument really are. also the different ways a suspect can be charged of a crime. but most of all, i am strangely drawn to a certain part of the court system. the jury.
the jury can have so much power over a case (rarely used in civil court, however). there are so many aspects to a jury. such as the process to how each juror is selected, (how they all should be combined to make the most objective jury possible), or how the media is not allowed to talk to any jurors until after the verdict is announced. as from my previous blogs, i have an opinion on the media being involved with the court. how they should not be too involved, because it could affect the case, and prevent the court system from being fair.
lots to soak in, especially when its just words on a page. but even though i don't want to be a beat/court reporter. it is still very important to have knowledge in the area.