I have received another summons to jury duty. I am definitely on their short list. It is frustrating. Not only do I get summoned more than anyone I know, I rarely get on a jury. If you have never responded or have avoided the list they draw from, it is an interesting experience.
Last time I went, I was shuffled to a courthouse far from home. I would guess that the areas with the greatest case load are the areas with the fewest eligible citizens. Once I was moved twice. That was the only time I actually was seated on a jury. They were so short of people that I think the judge threatened the lawyers to choose from the one’s available.
A lot depends on the clerk in charge of the jury holding tank. Some make life miserable and guarantee you will try to avoid it next time. I have been called to report to one of those locations this time. It was an ugly experience before. Hopefully someone has retired. Others bend over backwards to make it work for you.
We have what is called a “one day, one trial” arrangement in our area. If you don’t get on a jury the first day, you are dismissed. If you are chosen to serve it is just for the duration of that one trial. The way they string it out is that you call in each evening to see if they want you to show up the next day. At the end of that time, if not called in, you are done. Your “one day” doesn’t start until you are told to report, so you go through an entire week not knowing how to plan your life. If you are called and seated on a jury you serve from then until the end of the trial. At the end of that time, if not called in, you are done.
To be continued...
homo unius libri
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.