Service means Citizenship: Part 1 of 6

[jchrisobrien]

There was a bitter cold wind coiled around the base of the Middlesex County Courthouse on Tuesday, January 20th, 2004. It was frigid and piercing as it howled and sliced around you. Wind tunnels are common around buildings during winter, and all of them are malevolent to a degree. This was a mean and ornery critter, the kind you expect to hear about over Texan campfires, if Texans had a clue what cold meant. Little did I know how often I'd stare this varmint in the face over the next two weeks. I was coming in for jury selection you see, after having missed it two months in a row.
I stood in line to have my bag and coat scanned before I passed into the courthouse. I sat in a room with dozens of other people, watching the quaint little video explaining how the jury system worked. Many of them were probably scheming on how to avoid serving on a jury. Were they that eager to get back to their daily routine? Did they have an idea of the discomfort ahead, and hoping to avoid it at all cost? I couldn't tell you, because I was too damn tired to think about anything else. A late night of clubbing will do that to you. I remained in this zombified state until we reached the courtroom where the jurors were being picked. The judge selected his twelve jurors, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I'd miss one day, having done my duty, and get back to work. Then he let five of the picked jurors go, and started picking again.
Do you know what a deer looks like the moment your headlights land on them? Are they glassy eyed and surprised? I've never seen a deer in my headlights, but I'm pretty sure I didn't look like that. Less surprise, more resignation. A prisoner going to the gallows. Or a zombie, glassy eyed and uncomprehending anything besides eating your brains. Yeah, that's how I looked when the judge read my name and said "*my name*, Seat Number 11". I took my seat in the juror's box, surrounded by fellow zombies. We didn't have excuse, or our excuses weren't good enough to sway the judge's decision, or the lawyers. We were going to decide the fate of a civil malpractice case. We, the Jury.
My biggest concern was not having to serve on a jury. As the resignation turned to realization, I thought that this was going to be great chance to participate in something that makes our country run, a right that our fore fathers fought and died for. Not every country in the world has the luxury of a trial by jury. Normal citizens don't get a change to participate in how their country works, save for voting, and voting is not a pure process. This would be different, this would be participating in the justice system. And not as a prisoner! Then I found out the duration of the case: six days at a minimum. The court will cover three days of missed work. That leaves three days unpaid. As a contractor, getting paid by the hour, this was disastrous. I realized that I had forgot to mention information, information that might not make me a suitable witness. I did approach the judge about it, but he and the lawyers decided that I would be fit to serve. I felt fit to be tied.
Six days. Here we go...

NOTICE: I am legally bound not to discuss the details of this case. I will, however, be giving my impressions of what it is like to be a juror. Once the case is over, I'd be happy to plug in the salient details for you. Heh. I said "plug".

Comments

[synaesthesia.livejournal.com]

The last time I was called I ended up serving on a case... only to be made the alternate! At least I got some knitting done.

I hope the case does not drag on and you can go back to getting paid again (I love how in the guide they say how if you are self-employed, you should pay yourself for the time!).

Re:

[frederic.livejournal.com]

Are you allowed to bring knitting needles into courts these days? Or do you have some 'safe' wood ones?

And why don't they call me for jury duty when I'm unemployed? I'd like to get my turn over with when I have time to burn...

[synaesthesia.livejournal.com]

I just brought metal circulars and I didn't have any trouble at the Cambridge courthouse. I couldn't, like, bring them into chambers or anything, but while I was waiting (and waiting... our panel waited around until 2pm or so to be called) it was a godsend. Others were pacing or making call after call on their cellphones but I Had Something To Do.

I wish you could volunteer for duty -- it really would make sense.

[kharma.livejournal.com]

Hey mister... I've been trying to track you down, but can't seem to find your number anywhere...

Are you still free for tomorrow night?