HOSTAGE!
I am currently being held against my will. There are people with robes, gavels, and large men with guns. Potentially, that is.
I have been called for Jury Duty. Maybe.
I received my first subpoena back in October. It arrived while I was in Maine for my mother's funeral. When I returned, I wrote in requesting a deferral through the holidays. They complied, technically.
I received my second subpoena one week after Christmas - for this week.
Now, since I live at the Edge of the Great Woods, I am required to CALL THE COURT EVERY FRIGGING NIGHT THIS WEEK. You know, in case they decide to work this week...and maybe prosecute someone while other people stand and watch.
For the record, I do NOT mind the civic duty of serving on a Jury. In fact, I actually enjoy the process of court and law. I sat in on a jury trial while interning for a newspaper back in my 'budding journalist' days. I have also served on Mock Juries for law firms, helping hash out various pros and cons of cases. I am familiar with the law, and my duty.
I also realize that we are a blessed country, a democracy - blah, blah blah. I do, however, take issue with being at the beck and call of people so laid back that they JUST DON'T KNOW whether I will be needed or not.
At the moment, I know that I will not be needed tomorrow. Perhaps I should take this time to just GO TO BED. When I get back from a long day at work tomorrow, I have another call to make.
I have been called for Jury Duty. Maybe.
I received my first subpoena back in October. It arrived while I was in Maine for my mother's funeral. When I returned, I wrote in requesting a deferral through the holidays. They complied, technically.
I received my second subpoena one week after Christmas - for this week.
Now, since I live at the Edge of the Great Woods, I am required to CALL THE COURT EVERY FRIGGING NIGHT THIS WEEK. You know, in case they decide to work this week...and maybe prosecute someone while other people stand and watch.
For the record, I do NOT mind the civic duty of serving on a Jury. In fact, I actually enjoy the process of court and law. I sat in on a jury trial while interning for a newspaper back in my 'budding journalist' days. I have also served on Mock Juries for law firms, helping hash out various pros and cons of cases. I am familiar with the law, and my duty.
I also realize that we are a blessed country, a democracy - blah, blah blah. I do, however, take issue with being at the beck and call of people so laid back that they JUST DON'T KNOW whether I will be needed or not.
At the moment, I know that I will not be needed tomorrow. Perhaps I should take this time to just GO TO BED. When I get back from a long day at work tomorrow, I have another call to make.
posted by rennratt at 8:08 PM
8 Comments:
I was on a federal grand jury and had a blast. I was also on the local county jury list and had to call in like you. The one night I forgot, I was wanted and the judge issued a warrant for my arrest.
All was forgiven when I apologized to the Judge in front of the court the next day.
If my lottery odds matched the number of times I've been called to serve, I'd be on the couch permanently right now. I actually served on the jury for a murder trial some years ago. It was both enlightening and frightening all at the same time. A truly scary inside look at human behavior. I did it,I was proud to serve, I agreed with the outcome, but I NEVER want to do it again!!! The power of holding someone's life in your hands who has a half-ass lawyer is very intimidating...
(...p.s. most grateful to be back on my feet now!!!) I had to laugh at your comment about working construction LOL - I actually work with the marketing and sales force of an extremely high profile international company - but you'd never know it from some of the behaviour of folks I work with!!!
The one and only time I was able to respond to jury duty, I was not selected (and got huffy about it). The few other times I got notices, I had to beg off because I had weddings scheduled and I couldn't run the risk of getting on a jury. Now that I could probably do it - they don't call. I would love to serve on a jury!Good luck.
Please, PLEASE tell me you'll take pictures.
Hee!
Oy - jury duty. Losta thrills and spills there.
I got out of jury duty by saying something the prosecution thought was out of line. The question posed was 'can you set a dollar value on a body part?' I asked Which body part? He responded with 'does it matter?' I said YES.
I was not invited to be one of the 'chosen'. 'Scuse me, but I see a big dollar difference between my left pinkie and my EYE or the lower half of my leg. Made sense to me. *shrug*
I want to be on a jury. Let 'em all fry, I say.
C'mon, pleeezzee pick me?!
I have been called in to serve three times, but I never get chosen for a jury, because my brother is a big shot attorney and Prosecutor, so they always dismiss me during selection.
Besides, they might not care for my "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out" attitude.
I've been called for jury duty 3 times in my long life and gotten out of it all 3 times. You've got my sympathy, Renn.
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