Last week I had to serve jury duty. Lady Justice decided to
send me an invitation during the busiest time of the year at work, so I wasn’t
exactly thrilled when I opened the envelope. It’s been many years and hundreds
of miles since I was last called for jury duty and I thought I’d developed
immunity.
I was torn between wanting to be picked – any mystery writer
worth his or her salt wants to see the inner workings of a jury trial – and not
wanting to be picked. What if I ended up on one of long trials where you have
to live in a Holiday Inn Express for months on end? Worse, what if I ended up
on some boring civil case?
However, on the appointed day, I headed off to the
courthouse, ready to do my bit and hoping for an exciting trial.
Going through security at the tall brick courthouse amped up
the anticipation. Serious looking men and women in gray suits hurried past,
leather soles ringing on the marble floors. Officers of several kinds – police,
sheriffs, bailiffs – passed by. I cruised past the legal library, which was stocked
with oversize, leather-covered books that deserved the name “tomes.” There was
a quiet electricity in the air, a seriousness that said, This is no television
show.
I passed electronic docket boards hung high on the wall,
listing potential cases and the location of their courtrooms. One case included
fourteen counts against the defendant. Another potential juror pointed at the
board and whistled. “That’s the one to get.” Several cases were local
government-type things – snooze. I knew which case I wanted - the more
nefarious the crime, the more complex, the better. I haven't been reading John Grisham all these years for nothing.
As I entered the jury waiting room, I imagined the judge
resplendent in black robes, but with a glint of steel in her eye. The
prosecuting attorney, perhaps a Sandra Bullock type, overworked but passionate.
The defense attorney, a Bradley Cooper type with a killer smile, all slick
confidence….
But after an hour sitting in a stiff plastic chair, my
dreams of seeing a real life Perry Mason at work dimmed and faded as the
reality of jury duty sank in. Jury duty was several dozen people shifting
uncomfortably, texting, reading, surreptitiously snacking, and catching up on
sleep. Not so different from sitting in the dentist’s office, but with older
magazines.
After the first two hours, most of us were bored enough to
chat. The young man sitting on my left was engrossed in Frogger on his phone. I
struck up a conversation with the woman on the right, another (ahem) middle
aged woman with a book. Middle aged women will always chat, and people with
books are usually interesting. We chatted about how most cases nowadays are
settled out of court. Probably good for all involved, but hard on those of us
who want to see a juicy case.
We returned to our routines.
I checked Facebook on my phone.
Checked email.
Read blogs.
Snacked.
Read M. C. Beaton’s new novel, but even Agatha Raisin couldn’t
make the hands on the clock move any faster.
We waited. And waited some more.
After another hour, the bailiff arrived, sidearm and
handcuffs glinting in the fluorescent light. A jolt of anticipation – and
trepidation – coursed through the room. The bailiff cleared his throat and read
off the names of the chosen. Drat, not me! The chosen jurors shuffled through
the door. The room exhaled and then the next bailiff came in.
My turn, I
thought, coiling my feet beneath me to spring when my name was called. Can’t
keep Justice waiting.
The bailiff called twenty-four names and those potential
jurors shuffled out.
I shifted in my chair and looked around. Twelve of us remained,
legal rejects, jury duty wallflowers. I checked my outfit. Even though I knew
jurors were chosen by a random computer sort, I wondered if I had chosen the
wrong outfit: a floral sheath with matching cardigan. OK maybe not jury
material. I should have worn something navy blue or gray.
But I was being silly. A guy in a black Megadeth tshirt and
a sleeve of tattoos was chosen. In jury duty, clothes don’t make the juror.
An administrator told us we were excused and would not be
called for jury duty again for three years. I walked slowly out the courthouse
doors, wondering what could have been.
Have you served jury duty?
I have only been called for jury duty once—and ended up sequestered for three weeks in a moderately famous murder trial in Hackensack, New Jersey 1976. The defendant was Joseph Kallinger and the murder victim Maria Fasching.
ReplyDeleteWe did not have anything so pleasant as a Holiday Inn Express. Howard Johnson was the county's choice for us. After eating most breakfasts and dinners there, I have never entered a HoJo's again!
~ Jim
I've been called twice but never selected. Much to my relief. I don't like making decisions about other people's lives. One of my friends was on the jury for an accused murderer. When he was convicted and later executed, she breathed a sigh of relief. The murder had been so horrific she was relieved he wouldn't be on the streets again.
ReplyDeleteI've been excused after questioning because of my work background, so I haven't served on a jury.
ReplyDeleteMy poor mother was called for a federal jury on a smuggling case at the port of New York. It was a super hassle--fortunately, during the week, she could stay with one of my brothers rather than joining the ccmmuting throng to and from her house every day.
She was very careful to listen to hours of boring testimony. The trial lasted for several weeks.
Once the jury was in deliberations for several days, they were called back to the courtroom. A plea bargain had been negotiated, so they were dismissed.
She was furious! All that wasted time and energy.
In Fulton County Georgia, we were summoned every 18 months. I killed many hours sitting in the jury pool room in downtown Atlanta with hundreds of other jurors. Once, I was taken to a courtroom as a prospective juror. The defense attorney walked down the line, eying us, then went to the judge and pled guilty for his client. Too many women in the jury pool for a rape incest case. I am so thankful I wasn't on the jury for that case.
ReplyDeleteI've been called four or five times. I served on one jury when I was the chair. Another time I got to the stage when attorneys asked us questions. After hearing about my job, I was the first one dismissed.
ReplyDeleteJim, Sounds like you had quite enough of that sequestration business - and Ho Jo's (are there any more Ho Jo's, I wonder?)! I think that's everyone's fear - being stuck on a long trial. I think you definitely did your duty.
ReplyDeleteHi Grace,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. We tend to think about it as a big annoyance, but jury duty is a huge responsibility.
KM - I'm with your mom! I'd be furious, too! From what I have heard, with many trials, most parties want to do all the bargaining up front. Saves money and time for all.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I, too, was filled with dread at the thought of being empaneled on a truly awful crime. Though the thought of a really boring crime scared me a bit too - I was afraid I'd nod off during testimony.
ReplyDeleteWarren, did you say counselor or mystery writer? Actually I think both would make you an excellent juror.
ReplyDeleteI was a juror on a civil trial which was interesting. I felt like both parties were lying and I was fairly certain that we weren't shown all of the evidence. It wasn't easy to make a decision. I gained an appreciation for judges.
ReplyDeleteHi Kara,
ReplyDeleteI never even thought about that scenario - what if both are lying? I guess I am used to the clearly delineated hero/bad guy set up of hour long tv shows.
So it sounds like the judge came through (and probably felt the same way you did)?
I never have! I was on the waiting list once, but I never had to appear. I'd probably be thrown out anyway, given that I'm a longtime journalist in my town. They never pick journalists:(
ReplyDeleteOur courthouse won't let you bring a cell phone. Nothing that can take a picture or access the Internet. Last time I was there, they would allow e-readers. Actually a lot of the people called probably didn't get to make it to a jury either. They have to go through voir dire which will weed out more for multiple reasons, including knowing someone involved in the matter at hand.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Shari -- you made me feel like I was right there with you. I was called, seated, and then told to leave. The victims were in the military and my husband had just retired from the Air Force. I had all those same feelings -- want to be on it, don't want to be on it, repeat.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI think that journalists would make great jurors, but I can imagine that afterwards the desire to write about the experience would be VERY strong.
Hi Kait,
I was surprised that my county allowed electronic devices - we were all on our laptops and phones the whole time. I imagine that once in the court room, things changed.
Hi Sherry,
I wish you could have been "right there with me" doing something more exciting that enduring a hard plastic chair! I wonder if you would be disqualified now because of your job, though I think mystery writers would be great assets on a jury.
Shari, it's been a while since I was called. Three lawyers were part of the pool. The two of us who worked for the government served on juries, but the third was a well known criminal attorney, who sat in a corner working on a computer all day. At one point, after once again failing to be selected, the judge said regretfully, "Poor [criminal attorney's name], unwanted by any jury."
ReplyDeletePaula, What a scream!
ReplyDeleteShari, thank you for your service. It is important!
ReplyDelete