Edith Has Jury Duty

"Edith Has Jury Duty"
	Season 1, episode # 9; # 9 overall in series (205 episodes)
	; When edith is the lone juror who's holding out in pleading a "not guilty" verdict in a high-profile murder case where a Puerto Rican man is being accused, Mrs. Stonehurst, (Doris Singleton), a fellow juror and wealthy socialite who's only anxious to have the case over so she can go home, tries to argue her opinion in "Edith Has Jury Duty" in Season 1 (ep.#9).
	"All in the Family" episode
Series:	All in the Family
Network/Country:	CBS-TV
Air date	March 9, 1971
Production code	109
Teleplay by:	Susan Harris,Don Nicholl & Bryan Joseph
Story by:	Susan Harris
Directed by:	John Rich
Guest starring:	Doris Singleton; Hollis Irving; Billy Sands
IMDb:	Edith Has Jury Duty
	Episode guide
"Lionel Moves Into the Neighborhood"	"Archie Is Worried About His Job"
	List of All in the Family episodes ; List of Maude episodes; List of Archie Bunker's Place episodes

Edith Has Jury Duty is the ninth episode of the first season of CBS-TV's All in the Family series, and also the 9th overall episode of the series. Directed by John Rich and written as a teleplay by Susan Harris, Don Nicholl, and Bryan Joseph from an original story written by Harris, the episode originally aired on March 9, 1971.

Just because All In The Family specialized in cutting-edge humor didn't mean that the producers were above using tried-and-true sitcom plot lines now and then.

"Edith Has Jury Duty"
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Synopsis[]

Edith is the lone holdout in a high-profile murder case, in which the prosecution's case seems clear-cut. Archie whines because Edith has been sequestered for the duration and refuses to help himself around the house.

Plot Summary[]

Edith Bunker serves on a jury -- and of course, is the sole holdout when everyone else enters a "guilty" verdict. As a bonus, Archie airs his somewhat skewered opinions on capital punishment. In her absence, Archie, upset at Edith because he wants her home so she can serve him, puts Mike and Gloria through total misery!

When Edith is the lone juror who's holding out in pleading a "not guilty" verdict in a high-profile murder case where a Puerto Rican man is being accused, Mrs. Lydia Stonehurst, (Doris Singleton), a fellow juror and wealthy socialite who's only anxious to have the case over so she can go home, tries to argue her opinion concerning the accused in saying that "it's time we stopped coddling these criminals. Those "mad dogs" have got to be put behind bars," in , out of apparent predjuice and race bias, alluding to the defendant, because of his ethnic background.

When Edith expresses her doubts about the young man accused of being guilty, who she describes as a "nice-looking young boy", Mrs. Stonehurst then smugly responds, "Well, then look at it this way, we'd be doing that nice-looking young boy a favor by taking him out of that rat-infested ghetto, and put into a nice, clean prison!" Finally, after two days of deliberation, Edith's hunch about the suspect of the trial turns out to be right and the man is found innocent, much to the chagrin of an unimpressed Archie!

Trivia[]

Though basically a showcase for Jean Stapleton, this episode also draws excellent performances from the rest of the regular cast, as well as guest stars Hollis Irving (as Clara Weidemeyer) and Doris Singleton (as Mrs. Stonehurst). Also, the plot that Edith was the lone juror who voted not guilty on an accused young murderer from the slums only to find out that she was correct all along may be a reference to the courtroom drama and teleplay of the same name, 12 Angry Men.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Recurring characters/Guest stars[]

Doris Singleton as Lydia Stonehurst
Hollis Irving as Clara Weidermeyer (as Holly Irving)
Billy Sands as Voice of Bailiff (uncredited)
Butler (uncredited)

Cast mentioned[]

Judge
Spencer Tracey
Young guy who jumped in front of the subway train
Defense Attorney Archie insulted
Rodriguez
Three witnesses
Eric * Lydia Chief
Richard Nixon
Newscaster
Norton Rogers