esrosedotblog

JURY RIGGED

This is my year for being a good citizen. I had the County jury duty and hammered it out for a very long day, earlier this summer. Now, I have recieved a summons for Federal Jury Duty in Riverside, CA. I think this is about an hour away if there is no traffic. Hah.

This kind of thing is a real test of my red-white-and-blueness. I start to rebel against it even before I open the envelope. There is a questionairre (use #2 pencils only to fill the squares). There is a long dissertation about excuses; which boils down to 'there ain't one'. There is an encouraging note that only 30% of those called actually serve.

There is no denying that jury duty is hard. I think that everyone has a duty to do it. I am aware that the Federal panels are even more difficult. It is not one day and out. It is standby for thirty days and take a four day week for two successive weeks if you are chosen. How do they know that? I have heard of some federal trials that took months.

John says that I am the last guy they would want on a jury. I tend to agree. But I have started the process of worry about it nevertheless. I am thinking that it is good to have long hair. I am thinking that I do not believe (or do) in the death penalty. I think civil suits are a sham. I think that if people were innocent, they would not have gotten to the trial phase. That kind of good, intelligent, civic minded thinking.

Each time I get called, I vow to be more willing, to allow the process to take over, to let go and let Feds. At least this time I am thinking about how I could make it work FOR me rather than against me if I have to serve. I will not commute. I will stay in Riverside. I will be a good boy and not show any attitude. All that rehearsal. This month's exercise in getting out of my own way. Jeez, you would think that I am the guy who is on trial. What is s/he going through right now?