I served on a jury as foreman in a small town in Indiana (Nashville).
Background: 2 city cops were railroading a guy all of us perceived as innocent (the cop lied 3 times during testimony and deposition).
During selection, they started with 40 people. 20 were immediately dismissed due to questionnaire. Out of the 20, the school superintendant dismissed, family with law enforcement ties were dismissed, as were others that had conflict in the case. And I had broke my shoulder 3 weeks prior, so im in a sling. Everything was 'decent' in terms of no discrimination on schooling or intelligence. And it was painless.
However, during sequestering, I heard some of the most bile I've heard from others. I DO NOT like authority only because almost all abuse it. This case was no exception, but my fellow jurors went to the point of "I know who that cop is, and he's a dirty one." then she proceeds to tell stories about his covered dirt. I stayed... ahem... impartial, but the cop lied about his own testimony in open court.
I asked the judge in her quarters why wont he be charged with perjury. No answer...
That case alone let me know that the jury system does work. We would have acquitted within 10 minutes f cop 1's testimony.