Civic Duty

[ladysprite]

I 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.

Comments

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

It is deeply disapointing to not even get a chance to screw with anyone's head. When I was called a few months ago, I was out by 1 pm.

But that's what most people get out of jury duty... Being part of a giant pool, most of whome will not get a chance to listen to lawyers yammer for hours upon hours.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

No, no - the role of a juror is to sit in a big rectangular room and knit until it's time to walk down to a courtroom, sit down, stand up, and walk back.

I got about a third of a lace shawl done last time I got called for jury duty! (I didn't get to serve, either, and I was disappointed, 'cause in my newspapering days I saw just about every other aspect of the criminal justice system, from arrests to Death Row, and I've always wanted to see what really happens behind those doors.)

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

That was my experience also, although I substituted good WWII novels for mediocre urban fantasy. I'm not positive I *would* find it less glamorous if I got a real chance to serve, though... the people I know well who have been on juries recently describe it as absolutely fascinating.

[tafkad.livejournal.com]

You got to walk to a courtroom, sit down, stand up, and walk back??? Wow! When I did jury duty, we never got out of the main room. I was so ticked off that I took one step past a sign that said only authorized personnel were allowed beyond that point. Just to show them.

That fixed THEIR wigwams!

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

a short break to walk down to a courtroom, sit down, stand up, and walk back.

Count yourself lucky. I've reported for jury duty about five times, and on;y got even that far once. Never actually made it onto a jury. Heck, the only person I *do* know who did is jducouer.

then rejected for being too smart, too weird, too idealistic, or otherwise too something

The latest episode of Veronica Mars really bugged me in one repsect. How the *hell* does Veronica freakin' Mars get selected for jury duty? There's plenty of reasonable grounds for keeping her off (for both sides), and that's even ignoring peremptory dismissals.

Later, it occurred to me that the California jury selection process might be significantly different from that in Massachusetts. It's probably still way improbable, but as long as I don't investigate any more, I can be satisfied with that :-/

[siderea]

Heck, the only person I *do* know who did is jducouer.

I did! Mostly.

See, they impanel (empanel?) more jurors than they need, and then after they've heard the case, names of jurors are drawn from a hat, and those folks are the alternates. I heard a case but was then chosen as an alternate, so I didn't go into deliberation.

Later, it occurred to me that the California jury selection process might be significantly different from that in Massachusetts.

Not so's I noticed, but it was a long time ago.

[goldenoak.livejournal.com]

I did too. Two days on a DUI case - we convicted him. (In addition to driving on the wrong side of the road and failing the balance tests, he couldn't recite the alphabet and had admitted to having had "a beer or two" before leaving the bar.)

It was really interesting, overall, getting to be a cog in the Justice machine.

[meranthi.livejournal.com]

Thastygliax has, too. Not a very exciting trial, but...

They are apparently looking for jurors for the Druce/Geoghan trial right now and having a heck of a time finding people for it.

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

I was on a jury in Minnesota. For a man who was accused of having had sexual relations with his twelve-year-old daughter.

You're not missing anything.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

I had almost the identical experience (except I was rereading Little, Big) and I lost a good pair of scissors because New Jersey Federal buildings refuse to hold items you accidently bring in. They did tell me I could go outside and stick them under a bush though. Thankfully it's still a free country, so I told them what I thought of that idea. Politely of course. It was, after all, winter.

Sorry you didn't get to participate, but at least you have more fodder for daydreams. ;)

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I've been called twice, so far it's been a chance to catch up on reading...

[gyzki.livejournal.com]

Been called four times so far. Only made it into a courtroom once. Never served. Yet--I still hope to someday.

Last time was interesting, though: we had a Medical Incident.

[umbran.livejournal.com]

One phrase here has given me this wonderful mental image. An episode of the animated series of "The Tick" dealing with jury duty (and ninjas, there always has to be ninjas):

"It's time to commit some justice!"

[laurion]

Sounds nearly identical to the experience I had, minus the talk shows.

[baron-saturday.livejournal.com]

I've been called 3 times. The first and third I was empaneled, and subequently rotated out as an alternate juror. Which means, essentially, I can't go to work for a week, and only get to watch others commit Justice.

Frustrating? Yes, and no. The first time, I was convinced of the correct ruling and the rest of the jurors managed to get themselves hung. Not literally, but I could tell the Judge wished it were.

The second time, I had a really good group of intelligent and thoughtful jurors, and a really great judge who explained every step and told us exactly what aspects of the law he wanted us to rule on. The rest of Team Justice (as we had dubbed ourselves during lunch breaks) come to well-reasoned but speedy (day and 1/2) ruling that I agreed with.

Afterwards, the Judge came and sat with us and discussed the case and admitted that he totally agreed with our guilty judgement, but was planning on a very lenient sentence. Which I also agreed with.

All in all, the second time I served was a very satisfying experience.

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

Been on state jury duty once... actually, I was in the selection pool several times, but only got to be on one jury. It was a case where the guilt of the defendant was so transparently obivious that there was no drama or tension at all. The only high points were the judge dissing the nearly-incompetent defense attorney, and the name of the felony charge: "possession of burglarious tools." Ask me at F and I'll tell you the whole story.

Got in the potential pool for Federal court last year, but nothing came of it. That might have been interesting- Alexandria is where they try some very interesting cases...

[jducoeur]

Sounds about par for the course. I believe I've been up for jury duty four times. Twice I never made it to the building (excused by phone in advance), once was very much like you describe, and once was the time I wound up as foreman of the jury.

Overall, I'd say serving was an interesting experience, although nothing extraordinary. I wound up playing in a sort of low-grade "12 angry men" scenario -- two of us for acquittal against the rest of the jury who were sort of lazily inclined to convict. We eventually won, by repeatedly pointing out that the evidence was pitifully weak. (It was a fascinating exercise in what "proof" means. I'm still fairly sure the kid was at least marginally guilty of DUI, but I'm 100% sure that the police fabricated the case in order to avoid a false arrest suit...)