Editorial: Approach New Kent’s town hall meeting with the mindset of a juror

As New Kent’s town hall approaches Thursday night (May 24), those in attendance should be in the mindset as if they are being questioned as a potential juror for a trial.

Now, a lot of people just paused when they read that statement and questioned how what I just said has anything to do with a town hall revolving around Colonial Downs reopening and the possibility of a casino coming to New Kent. Well, let me give you a brief yet thorough explanation.

During the jury selection process, the judge will ask potential jurors if they have seen or read anything about the case. If a person has, the judge will inquire specific knowledge from that individual. After hearing that information, the judge will ask a question similar to the following: “That information that you have seen or television or have read in a newspaper may or may not be true. Do you think you can put whatever you heard or read out of your mind and decide this case on this information that you heard hear alone?” The juror will offer a response, but the judge does not dismiss him or her. Instead, he will confer with the attorneys on the case and they will work with the judge to decide if that juror should be excused.

Returning back to the town hall, there will be a lot of information presented, specifically in regards to the possible casino. If you have seen the many television stories or even viewed comments on the Chronicle’s Facebook wall regarding the story, people are going back and forth about the issue. The truth of the matter is that not even county supervisors know how to approach the situation and they have hired a consultant to assist them. In fact, this is the first time in the state of Virginia that this is happening.

There will be more questions than answers in this town hall meeting. The thing attendees need to know is to keep an open mind and listen to the information to get a better understanding on what’s going on and the steps that are needed before a possible casino is even considered. This is a process and believe it or not, it’s going to take a long time. People may have spent time in casinos in other states, but this is taking place in Virginia for the first time.

There will be pros and cons for having a facility in New Kent. There will be those who are for it and those who are against it. But there is one thing that must be told first and foremost; we must understand what’s going on before entering a judgment on the impact of the facility.