Jury Duty Experience

The summons had me calling in daily, after 5 PM, starting June 20, which meant my life was on hold all week.  I had to cancel appointments as I wouldn't know until the last minute if they could be kept.  Every day, when I called, I breathed a sigh of relief as my number was not called.  But, I knew when I hung up on Tuesday Thursday would be my day to report.  I was thankful to be assigned to civil court as criminal proceedings scare the crap out of me.  Besides, I don't think I am capable of deciding a life changing fate for anyone.

The recording told me to report at 9.  Being conscientious I got there at 8:50 and saw a line a half block long.  I waited and it got longer.  I sat until there was no more line and entered at 9:20.  The court  officer glared at us as if we were the prisoners and gave instructions in a very stern, no nonsense voice.  She entertained no questions.  While this was quite intimidating, I saw her point after a few minutes.  People are just plain dumb.

The first thing she said was if anyone was accompanying a juror, they should come forward. A woman got up with a baby.  At least ten people, all alone, got up to talk to her.  After finding out they were potential jurors and alone, she had them sit.  She said again, no questions yet but one man would not sit and kept going up to talk to her.  They collected juror summonses and then had people with problems line up.  Some were real but I am sure many were made up.  The number who claimed to not speak English was amazing.

After all this we sat.  Some people were called.  A 100 year old judge came in to address us.  He was kind of F status, retired but still working, collecting a pension and a hefty paycheck.  He emphasized how important we were and how we were respected but respect seemed to be lacking from many of those working there.  He said we hadn't lived until we were part of a jury.  This is one part of life I don't mind not living.  We didn't know how long we would be there.  It could be until 5, but not likely as most judges do not like working full days. (It didn't matter what we liked.)   We could be spending one day or two weeks.  But respectfully treatment of jurors is utmost.  (I do get they don't know but it is still discerning not to know.)

The wait in the jury room was long.  They did show Mrs. Doubtfire on television, there are computers, books, magazines and wifi and the chairs aren't too bad.  Still, not the way most of us would choose to spend the day.  At noon they switched to World Cup game which was an improvement.  My nap was interrupted when it was announced the US team would move on.

Lunch was from 1 to2.  At 2:30 they let people called but not picked this morning go home. It would have been nice if they let them go an hour and a half earlier. They only called one jury all day.  I'm no expert, but there has got to be a better way.  At 3:30 they sent us all home and told us we were finished with jury duty for at least 4 years.  Again, I could not believe how many people asked the court officer if they had to show up the next day.

I thought about blowing this day off.  I was sick and know I could have gotten a doctor's note.  I'm glad I didn't.  One day, no panel, was more than enough for me.

The Panel

So I got picked for a panel. It was medical malpractice involving a doctor, the lab, a pap smear and cervical cancer. Six people were going to be questioned at a time. They didn't tell us much, only that they needed five more jurors and that the trial would start on Tuesday and would run three or four days. They just wanted to talk to us, to find out stuff about us. I got questioned second. The first guy seemed like some sort of criminal. He said he didn't want to be there but as long as he wasn't going to send anyone to jail, it was okay with him. I told them I was a math teacher, I wrote that on my questionnaire, but I remembered that my friend, who is a malpractice lawyer for doctors said he liked math teachers on his juries. He said math teachers were very analytical. I told them I did not want to be there. I told them my students needed me to help them pass the regents to graduate and to pass the AP exam in May. I then started telling them about my mom's experience in the hospital and how I think the doctors did something to her in the ER that might have led to her death. They quickly pulled me out of the jury room and questioned me privately. I told them how she got steadily worse in the ER, after the medication and the blood transfusion. I told them that no one would care, because she was old. I started to cry. They told me to get my things and go back to the jury selection room. They were very sorry for my loss.

I'm sorry I used my mom this way but, it wasn't an act. I really was upset. I also don't want to serve on this or any jury. My mom would be happy that she helped me out. So now I am back waiting for someone to tell me I can go home and hopefully that I don't have to come back for six more years. The only case they need a jury for today is the one I just got eliminated from.

On an up note, lunch was 1.5 hours. I took a nice long walk along Jamaica Ave and Suphtin Blvd. I love these neighborhoods. They are so colorful. I wish I had my camera but I know it is not allowed in the building so I left it home today. I know so many people that are afraid to walk around this neighborhood. It is their loss. The people here are like people in any neighborhood. They shop, they eat lunch and they care for their children. I feel sorry for those scaredy cats. They are missing so much life has to offer.

Jury Duty and Other Stuff

I'm on jury duty. I don't want to be here. I don't want to be here so bad that I would pick a PD day instead. I really shouldn't complain. It is only the second time in my long life that I have had to serve. For years I used child care as an excuse. Even when my son was 16, I claimed he needed his mommy around to get excused. I couldn't believe that it worked,

The last time I was called was six years ago. It was in criminal court. Some stupid woman brought her baby. The court officer yelled "Don't you know there are rapists and murderers in this building. It is not safe for a baby." I thought, "Hell, it's not safe for me either. I've got to get out." I got put on a panel--an African American male was accused of trying to murder his wife. The lawyers questioning perspective jurors made him sound guilty. His legal aid lawyer did nothing. I felt he was convicted before the trial even began. When the judge asked, "Can you make a fair decision?" I answered "NO". I calmly told him that in this country Black men do not always get fair trials. I had just seen the movie Hurricane and was still upset about the way that man had been treated by the law. The judge screamed at me and threw me out. I don't mind getting yelled at if the end result is what I want.

Now I am back. It's civil court this time, which is a whole lot better. They even have computers here. I didn't know that so I brought along my own lap top. We'll probably be sitting here all day, but I don't think we'll have to come back Friday. My husband drove me here this morning. He's nuts about not being late and nothing I said could convince him that it did not matter. People walked in up to two hours late with no penalties. The court officer asked if anyone had a summons that did not start on November 16. You would not believe how many people got up and told him that theirs started on that day. So much for jurors with common sense. I handed in my paper work, went for coffee and a bagel and am back being a good citizen.

I'm sure my classes won't miss me too much. One of my AP calculus classes had a test scheduled for today. I left it with a friend to give them and I told them they would take it with our without me. They are good kids. I just spoke to the friend. He said all went well. The other AP class will get to work on their Thanksgiving take-home test. I give them tons of take-home tests because it forces them to work together and study more. I give plenty of in class stuff to separate the real students from the wooses. My Math B classes will probably be partying. They've been wild all week so I guess we can all use a day apart.

My son got home yesterday, my daughter will be coming in tomorrow and my sister got in last night from Texas to spend two weeks with my dad. Between Thanksgiving, the time he and my mom usually went to Florida and the approach of what would have been his 59th anniversary, it will be a hard time. I'm glad she is around to ease his burden. We are all spending the holiday together at my house tomorrow. My son is upset because I only bought a turkey breast this year instead of an entire turkey. Hopefully when he tastes it and all his other favorite stuff, he will be happy. If not,tough. I could have bought him a tofurkey (which I would have preferred.)

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Don't overeat. Enjoy your school free holiday.