There it was, on top of the stack in my mailbox: my JURY SUMMONS. My wince was on automatic, hoping I had a reason to cancel, sure I’d have to miss something important on that specific date three weeks from then. I made a reminder sign so big that I couldn’t miss it to call the day before I was supposed to show up, hoping, praying my jury group #3405 was settled out of court and I didn’t really have to go in that next day. Wishful thinking got me nowhere hearing my group number called, knowing I had to appear at 8:30am the next day. So, I got busy gathering every piece of reading material I hadn’t read yet, and filled my bag with snacks and munchies that would get me through the day.
‘Lady Wears Prada’ was the video just ending when I walked to the front desk of this bull-pen, where each of us sat, somewhat zombie-like, with ping pong eyes on the clock and/or the TV. It wasn’t until 3pm that my #110 jury number was called. 50 of us followed our cherubic, yet very-much-in-control bailiff, Michael, to the Judge’s courtroom. We took our assigned seats, clutching the laminated cards, milkwatered blue on one side, green on the other, that showed our number for all to see, while preparing us way ahead of time for the questions we will be asked to answer.
Sitting there at attention, our backs straight, our eyes on the Judge, we were informed within the first 5 minutes that we were being considered as jurors for a projected 6 week (!!!) MURDER trial. I squirmed in my seat, trying to picture all the non-negotiables I already had on my schedule, fishing for the excuse that would get me excused. 6 weeks is a long time for me to be out of my routine life…could I really afford that? what about all those declarations and resolutions I just made for this New Year? AND, MURDER??? How did I feel about that??? I looked over at the defendant that, to me, looked better than his attorney. At this point, this was the choice-less choice. Canceling eye doctor appointments and 2 client meetings, I walked in to the court room that next day, settled on the decision I made earlier that morning: I wanted to be chosen.
Before the lunch break on the second day, 18 more people were eliminated. If nothing else than to exercise my voice, I started to talk to Eduardo, another juror in my bench row and part of yesterday afternoon’s group. Today was his daughter’s 18th birthday and we talked about finding him flowers to bring home to her when this day was done. I remembered his response just a few hours previously when the judge asked if anyone had any experience with the law. Eduardo stood up, shuffled his feet in place, saying his brother was currently in Florence in solitary confinement. As each part of this selection process unfolded in ‘slo mo’ for me…I tried connecting the dots, listening to the stories about every life, while witnessing and taking mental notes on the posture of the Judge and the Prosecutor on one side, and the Defense Attorney and Defendant on the other.
The Defendant was dressed and pressed into a navy suit and tie. His shoulders were like that of Atlas, and his hands were super size. I watched him…a lot. The more I noticed his confidence, his assuredness, almost smugness, the more I knew in my gut: he was guilty.
So it was a good thing my Juror #110 was eliminated in the next round. I looked at the 13 jurors that were chosen, and realized they were the ones who never raised their card to an objection, consideration, or participation. They were homogenous, unlike Eduardo and I, who, for one reason or another, had a story with more color. Not good or bad, understand…just different. I was released at 5:15pm after spending 2 full days breathing jury air. I couldn’t wait to get outside again, grateful that I wasn’t the one who had to make a decision about another person’s life…grateful that I surrendered to the possibility of volunteering my services and opinions for 6 weeks because it was the right thing to do…and grateful that through the natural evolution of the process, this trial was not the right one for me at this time.
In 18 months or so, that jury summons will show up again. I’ll be ready by then.
3 Comments
I’m glad you decided that you didn’t want to play the get me out of jury duty card.. So many people do not realize that if they purposely try to get out of jury duty, and are successful, they are probably allowing someone who doesn’t really give a hoot about the legal system to stay and possible make a bad decision, especially in a murder trial. There are certainly valid reasons for people to ask to be excused, but so many people just do not want to be bothered. I’ve been called several times and although I have never been placed on a jury, I would have done it willingly. Defendant lawyers have never liked people that were from the insurance industry… Go figure!!!
I’m glad you decided that you didn’t want to play the get me out of jury duty card.. So many people do not realize that if they purposely try to get out of jury duty, and are successful, they are probably allowing someone who doesn’t really give a hoot about the legal system to stay and possible make a bad decision, especially in a murder trial. There are certainly valid reasons for people to ask to be excused, but so many people just do not want to be bothered. I’ve been called several times and although I have never been placed on a jury, I would have done it willingly. Defense lawyers have never liked people that were from the insurance industry… Go figure!!!
Sam, you are so right! After I got over the initial shock of a 6 week commitment…and that this was a murder trial, I really wanted to serve. Thanks for sharing your experience and insights.