I’ve now been excused. Whew! (That is an extreme understatement.) I would say more, but I don’t feel it’s appropriate for me to, right now. The case is somewhat high profile around here, and I take it very seriously. This particular jury summons experience has given me a lot of food for thought—about my life, my family, the jury process, and even my current mystery. But I’ll save that for later. Back to fiction writing.

Hehehe

At the time I was first called to serve, I had health issues that prevented me from participating. Like Barbara, the writer in me had always anticipated the opportunity – all the possibilities!

In January of this year, I was called again and appeared. I was armed to my eyeballs with books and crosswords, and quarters for the vending machines. The cavernous room was about ½ full. Instructions aplenty were addressed. I felt like I was in church – everyone respectfully listened – eager to obey and serve. An hour or so later a clerk approached the podium with a startling announcement. All cases had been bargained or rescheduled – we were no longer needed. She made a HUGE point of letting us know how rare it was to be communally dismissed.

I await my next notice to appear. It will be in one year (or is it two?), maybe never.

This time around, my husband was summoned for jury duty about three weeks before I was. Maybe it’s just those little random clusters that occur. But it does make you wonder.

Part of my jaded attitude is that I have served on two long trials before. They’re as exhausting for the jurors as for the other people involved. You want to do the right thing, and not miss a word or nuance of what’s going on. You know someone’s freedom or financial security hangs in the balance. You must be there every single day the trial is in session, no matter what else is going on in your personal life or on your job. No matter how much paid time you have, the personal life and the job don’t go away. Health issues come up, too. Michael J*ckson isn’t the only one who wakes up with a back problem, a migraine, or arthritis pain. On one jury we had a flu bug making the rounds. If we had all taken the time off we really needed for illness, they would’ve had to start over with a new jury. At one point the restrooms on our floor of the courthouse ran out of toilet paper. Hmm, maybe there are bits of novels or short stories in all that.

But there are aspects I find completely fascinating about the process, and it’s an opportunity to see the system in action. Really no two days in any courtroom are alike.