We love the mail most of the time….except when we  receive THE  NOTICE…….for jury duty, that is. In fact, I think that rates above all the bills, even notices offering  3 days 2 nights in Cabo, for a  time share offer. 

It doesn’t happen very often….in fact mine only come once a year. I don’t know if that is good or bad news, or if I am the norm. But I am absolutely amazed at the way people regard jury duty,the lengths they discuss it, and if truth be known, the hours of sleep they lose prior to the date.

To me, it is a priviledge and honor being selected to serve.  Hear me out  now… cause I’ll get to the negative side soon enough.  However, back to the being a potential juror…..First, they don’t just pick anyone, and ‘they’ are the attorneys for the prosecution and defense.  Even the judge gets a shot asking the questions to best define your fairness and ability.  Each side gets so many ‘you may be excused’  choices,before having to seat the jury.

 We  all know we are  just the greatest so it can be quite a surprise when some total stranger says we will not be making the grade.  I mean, after we’ve made it all the way there, having made arrangements for school, work, kids, supper, crafts, vacation, voting, becoming racist, having a relative who is an alcoholic, and another who was abused, and yet another in jail for tax evasion, we still feel the sting of not making the list (on the inside).

But that is not really what it’s all about…..being called for jury duty is being called up to be an American, a devotee of democracy, a follower of freedom, and champion of rights.  Men and women have fought and died for the opportunity to serve. A trial by jury, tho not perfect, sure beats what we read about in other countries…..Remember a high school grad disappearing from Aruba…..or another being sent to jail for a murder she did not commit and just now freed……Kind of makes a jury and a country who says innocent until proven guilty……and beyond a reasonable doubt, incidentally, sound pretty damn good.

Potential jurors are treated with respect and held in high esteem, by those who run the courts. They do, I repeat DO understand  that your life has been derailed, as far as you are concerned, and they are most sincere in making your stay as painless as possible. All you really have to do is have your badge and show up. There is coffee, music, TV, movies, food machines, games,and plenty of breaks to help you wait.  I have served as a juror in 2 states and both have treated us as distinguished guests, excluding having to be checked for drugs, guns, and knives when we came thru the front door.

I have been on 4  juries and, in doing so, have met men and women from all walks of life.   They chose to come forward and participate, and therefore represent the American judicial system in its best form.  They were rich, poor,and middle; retired, students,and working stiffs; handicapped, without cars, and living long distances…….and yet they came and stood tall.

The days can be long on a jury, and also tedious.  It is a position that should only be held by those who are ready and faithful.  They must choose to render a truthful verdict based on questions and answers submitted to them.  Notice I did NOT say….what they hear on TV, what they assume happened, what Aunt Sally hears at the shop, or generally, just how they feel about it.

Being part of a jury is good…it makes one stand a little taller, even a pinch smarter, and above all, a better person, for having done what was right.( in spite of having that uncle who evaded taxes, in 1898).