Thursday, May 01, 2008

Jury doody...

...because I finally got the call last night. Or, more accurately, I dialed the Superior Court number and heard the artificial voice say "please report tomorrow at 7:45."

Okay, so I did.

It was much like last year's adventure into Good Citizenship: the same spiel about how to stay in line and keep the judges happy, the same type of video (with new, diversity-correct actors) in which former jurors extol the virtues of the experience.

But it was a strange day. The courthouse was quiet, relaxed and, seemingly, underpopulated. I guess the "day without Mexicans" protest (or whatever they called it this year) kept a lot of people at home.

There were fewer people splashing around in the jury pool, too. The room wasn't filled this time around.

We were released for lunch a half-hour early. That meant a two-hour break, time enough for me to head over to WallyMart for a much-needed pair of jeans.

And then it was 3:00, and we were told to go home. No jurors were called out.

Kind of a let-down, really. Though I didn't want to get stuck on a jury, I remembered finding the jury-selection process the most interesting part of the day last year. Real-life lawyers -- and judges -- simply ain't like they're portrayed on TV. The ones I encountered were a whole hell of a lot dumber than their scripted, made-up counterparts, and thus were far more amusing.

I was home by 3:30. A wasted day.

At least I don't have to do it again for another year.

11 comments:

John0 Juanderlust said...

Maybe the judges were off for the dia.

Anonymous said...

*knock on wood* I have yet to be called for jury duty.

Anonymous said...

I have been called, but so far have not had to show up.
Roz

Anonymous said...

I almost got on a murder trial once, over at Long Beach. They ended up seating me on the jury, and I was getting into it; then, the threw me off. I always wondered the outcome of that trial.

Anonymous said...

Haven't seen you around in a while. I hope everything's OK. We're thinking of you.

Anonymous said...

Awful quiet around here! All well I hope.

Anonymous said...

Off the subject... I started working out...I am sore and tired and cranky. How long till it gets to be a positive thing?

becomingkate said...

I've never been called, although I've heard that it happens. Here, they always ask a defendant if they want trial by judge alone, or judge and jury. Most pick just the judge.

Anonymous said...

You can update now.
Come on...we are waiting.

Anonymous said...

WHERE ARE YOU? IF I AM AROUND MORE OFTEN THAN YOU ARE SOMETHING IS WRONG!

Anonymous said...

Somebody call Holly.