I wanted to go down to UT this morning where they are filming the TODAY Show’s 4th hour with Hoda and Kathie Lee. I was planning to take a big poster of the cover of my book. But, alas, I realized last night that the jury summons I recently received includes a mandatory orientation today.
Oh well, probably was never a good idea to peddle my mom book on national television while standing next to college students who look like they are 9 anyway. (And a BIG shout out to my friend Beth, who was willing to go down there with me had it worked out!)
Observations of Jury Duty Orientation:
#1 – No One Wants to Be There
It is absolutely our civic duty, which is why we all comply. Well, that, and the threat of being held in contempt of court. But, pretty much everyone’s sentiment is “Oh, maaaaaaaan. I don’t want to do jury duty!”
#2 – There is GOOD people watching at Jury Duty Orientation!
A room full of strangers is a really interesting social experiment. Throw in the fact that everyone thinks they are too busy to be there, and you get some interesting body language. And conversations…
#3 – Jury Duty Karma
A couple hundred people were packed like sardines into padded banquet chairs; it was standing room only. The three people to my right were whining openly about how they didn’t want jury duty and coming up with excuses. When it was time to call names at random, ALL THREE of them were chosen for either grand jury or criminal court! Word to the wise: apparently, there is jury duty karma.
#4 Mr. Burns was there. Staring at me.
An older gentleman, who looked like Mr. Burns from The Simpsons, was on my right. He was thin and a bit slouchy. He sat with his legs crossed knee-over-knee, and his body facing forward except for his head, which was turned towards me. And he stared at me almost the WHOLE time. (And all the chairs were so close together that his nose was only a few inches from my right cheek!) It was really weird. He only turned away for the bad karma whining, and then after that he was called away.
I mentioned this at dinner tonight and had the following conversation with my daughter, Molly (7):
Molly: “Well, did you talk to him?”
Me: “No, I was pretty quiet and looked straight ahead.”
Molly: “That’s strange. Usually, you chat up a storm.”
#5 The Only Useful Tip in this Whole Blog Post
At the end of orientation, you have to go sign up for a window of time to be available for jury duty. Had I known this, I would positioned myself near the signup table I wanted, so I wouldn’t have to wait as long. Live and learn.
This is the first time I have ever been called to serve. Have any of you done this before? Meet any interesting people there?
You are correct that jury duty = good people watching! The last time I was on jury duty a woman was walking through an aisle when her “huge” purse knocked some guy in the head. They almost came to blows in there!! In DC, there is no picking your service dates. Instead – you get a summons, you appear, you either get put on a jury or at the end of the day you are done until you get your next summons – (almost) exactly TWO years later. And, if you’re really lucky, you get summonsed to both “state” and federal courts on alternating years! Hope you enjoy the experience -as much as possible (because although no one wants to be there, our justice system would not work without juries of our peers)! Great idea for promoting the book – sorry it didn’t work out!!
You are right, Angie. Our justice system is important and I should embrace it more. I actually think it would be really interesting to be a juror if that’s how it works out.
Plus, there would be more good people watching!
Heather
Hey H,
It could be good material for your next book, “Secrets of the Juryhood”.
That’s funny.