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Civic Duty
Jan. 9th, 2006 10:59 pmI had my first-ever round of jury duty today.
Based on my experience, I can state that apparently the role of a juror is to sit in a big rectangular room, watch morning talk shows, and read mediocre urban fantasy for hours at a stretch, with a short break to walk down to a courtroom, sit down, stand up, and walk back.
I feel vaguely let down by this entire experience. I'm sad that I didn't get to commit justice - there's a tiny but vocal part of me that wants to Give Something Back to the country, and make important decisions and be a part of the government and the community and do my civic duty, and this wasn't like that at all. And if I have to miss out on that experience, I find it highly unfair that I didn't even get the prestige of being chosen, asked unusual questions about my life and career, and then rejected for being too smart, too weird, too idealistic, or otherwise too something for an attorney to want me deciding the fate of their client.
I'm sure that I'd find actually serving on a jury far less glamorous if I actually had to do it, but having been denied the opportunity, I'm going to have to spend the next three years wondering if I've missed out on some significant American Experience.
On the other hand, at least I get to go back to work tomorrow, instead of leaving another clinic in the lurch with no advance warning.
Based on my experience, I can state that apparently the role of a juror is to sit in a big rectangular room, watch morning talk shows, and read mediocre urban fantasy for hours at a stretch, with a short break to walk down to a courtroom, sit down, stand up, and walk back.
I feel vaguely let down by this entire experience. I'm sad that I didn't get to commit justice - there's a tiny but vocal part of me that wants to Give Something Back to the country, and make important decisions and be a part of the government and the community and do my civic duty, and this wasn't like that at all. And if I have to miss out on that experience, I find it highly unfair that I didn't even get the prestige of being chosen, asked unusual questions about my life and career, and then rejected for being too smart, too weird, too idealistic, or otherwise too something for an attorney to want me deciding the fate of their client.
I'm sure that I'd find actually serving on a jury far less glamorous if I actually had to do it, but having been denied the opportunity, I'm going to have to spend the next three years wondering if I've missed out on some significant American Experience.
On the other hand, at least I get to go back to work tomorrow, instead of leaving another clinic in the lurch with no advance warning.
