I'm not one to feel sorry for myself. Shut up! I can hear you snickering out there. You know who you are.
Honestly, I've done my time. I paid attention. Listened to both sides. Reached a decision as fairly and carefully as I could. Yep, jury duty. I served all last week on a trial with a Defendant charged with Aggravated Operating Under the Influence. He was driving drunk and hit a man on a motorcycle causing serious bodily harm. Guilty.
Today I returned to the jury pool fully expecting to be sent home with a lollipop and a light tap on the bum. I was looking forward to that part. Not to be. There were over a hundred potential jurors in that room and who gets picked again? Number 106. Me. Fuck. Wednesday's child is full of woe indeed.
Serving one's duty on a jury is interesting and fulfilling. Once. I completed a citizen's obligation to the State. I was important. Mr. blood alcohol .21s fate was in my hands. Such power. And all the waiting around for judges and lawyers to finish their smoke breaks gave me ample time to work on my nails. They're bitten down to the quick just as I like them. But another trial? Another week? They all hate me at my job already. And jury duty tips are shit. Take my word for it.
Perhaps if I'd stood up and claimed to know the Defendant or this witness or that witness (as many others did ... liars) I'd be off the hook. But I was honest and sat there with my fingers crossed. A lot of good that did. I'll tell you who's aggravated ...
Honestly, I've done my time. I paid attention. Listened to both sides. Reached a decision as fairly and carefully as I could. Yep, jury duty. I served all last week on a trial with a Defendant charged with Aggravated Operating Under the Influence. He was driving drunk and hit a man on a motorcycle causing serious bodily harm. Guilty.
Today I returned to the jury pool fully expecting to be sent home with a lollipop and a light tap on the bum. I was looking forward to that part. Not to be. There were over a hundred potential jurors in that room and who gets picked again? Number 106. Me. Fuck. Wednesday's child is full of woe indeed.
Serving one's duty on a jury is interesting and fulfilling. Once. I completed a citizen's obligation to the State. I was important. Mr. blood alcohol .21s fate was in my hands. Such power. And all the waiting around for judges and lawyers to finish their smoke breaks gave me ample time to work on my nails. They're bitten down to the quick just as I like them. But another trial? Another week? They all hate me at my job already. And jury duty tips are shit. Take my word for it.
Perhaps if I'd stood up and claimed to know the Defendant or this witness or that witness (as many others did ... liars) I'd be off the hook. But I was honest and sat there with my fingers crossed. A lot of good that did. I'll tell you who's aggravated ...
5 comments:
The 'death in the family' excuse may work.
You know, I may just resort to that. My luck hasn't taken me very far in life.
Ahhh, quit yer whinging (that's right, I'm going with the british spelling) and do your duty as a Citizen.
Shut your gob. I have just completed two weeks of jury duty now. And have to go back again on Monday for another round of jury selection. No doubt I'll be picked again.
Wrong. I was not picked to serve as a juror this week. Of course I am relieved but secretly I'm wondering what the case entails this time.
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