“I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.” - Thomas Jefferson
I was summoned to jury duty for the VERY FIRST time. I reported to duty yesterday and although inconvenienced with child care arrangement, I somewhat enjoyed the experience because it satisfied my curiosity about the process.
I'm not sure how I made it 13 years as a registered voter without a jury duty summons, but I did. I was starting to take it personally, so you can imagine the relief when it was finally MY TIME. :)
I called the night before and reported to the Maricopa County Courthouse Downtown at 8am on Monday morning. The trickiest part of the whole day was locating the stupid free parking lot amidst all of the one way streets. Seriously hate one way streets. Why would ANYONE think that was a great idea for city planning?
I waited in the large jury holding room for almost 90 minutes (reading and listening to my IPOD) until they called my name. Myself and 60 of my fellow community citizens marched to the center of the room and followed the bailiff to meet our judge and the potential case. As I followed the masses through the courthouse, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for our country's judicial system. Every system has imperfections, but what a blessing it is to live in a free country with an organized court system that allows for a trial by jury, if desired.
Sat myself down on the wooden benches in the courtroom for almost 2 1/2 hours while the judge spoke to us of the case details (homicide) and sifted through members of the potential jury. This was such a unique process to me, because suddenly I was allowed a magnified window into the lives of 59 complete strangers. They became my closest non-acquaintances. I know who is divorced, married, sick, unemployed, financially challenged, suffered death in the family, had children shot, had uncles killed, where they work, where their spouses work, and most importantly where they stand on many major social and cultural issues. As we broke for lunch, I was so intrigued by their lives I wanted to go talk to them about their stories and invite them to dinner. :)
When it came to my turn, they breezed right over my information and focused on Greg. What type of law? How long? Where does he practice? Does he know the other attorney on the jury? And then the judge asked his first name. Which apparently is because the judge was an attorney at Fennemore (Greg's Law Firm) for years and wanted to know whether he knew him. GEEEEEEEEEZ people. Who is the potential juror here? ME or GREG?
Nope. I was not chosen for the jury. I guess they generally choose from the top of the list and I was #59. Although grateful for the day's experience, I was also glad that I didn't have to find emergency child care for Emma for 6 days. And thrilled that I didn't have to listen or SEE gruesome details regarding a homicide.
A HUGE thank you to Bonnie and JJ who watched my daughter all day long as I became fast friends with strangers in my community and completed my civic duty with pride. THANK YOU GUYS!!
“When you go into court, you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty” - Norm Crosby
PS - On a complete side note, I rode my new bike for the FIRST time this morning (10 miles) and all I can say is WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Move over swimming, there's a new favorite in town.
I'm not sure how I made it 13 years as a registered voter without a jury duty summons, but I did. I was starting to take it personally, so you can imagine the relief when it was finally MY TIME. :)
I called the night before and reported to the Maricopa County Courthouse Downtown at 8am on Monday morning. The trickiest part of the whole day was locating the stupid free parking lot amidst all of the one way streets. Seriously hate one way streets. Why would ANYONE think that was a great idea for city planning?
I waited in the large jury holding room for almost 90 minutes (reading and listening to my IPOD) until they called my name. Myself and 60 of my fellow community citizens marched to the center of the room and followed the bailiff to meet our judge and the potential case. As I followed the masses through the courthouse, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for our country's judicial system. Every system has imperfections, but what a blessing it is to live in a free country with an organized court system that allows for a trial by jury, if desired.
Sat myself down on the wooden benches in the courtroom for almost 2 1/2 hours while the judge spoke to us of the case details (homicide) and sifted through members of the potential jury. This was such a unique process to me, because suddenly I was allowed a magnified window into the lives of 59 complete strangers. They became my closest non-acquaintances. I know who is divorced, married, sick, unemployed, financially challenged, suffered death in the family, had children shot, had uncles killed, where they work, where their spouses work, and most importantly where they stand on many major social and cultural issues. As we broke for lunch, I was so intrigued by their lives I wanted to go talk to them about their stories and invite them to dinner. :)
When it came to my turn, they breezed right over my information and focused on Greg. What type of law? How long? Where does he practice? Does he know the other attorney on the jury? And then the judge asked his first name. Which apparently is because the judge was an attorney at Fennemore (Greg's Law Firm) for years and wanted to know whether he knew him. GEEEEEEEEEZ people. Who is the potential juror here? ME or GREG?
Nope. I was not chosen for the jury. I guess they generally choose from the top of the list and I was #59. Although grateful for the day's experience, I was also glad that I didn't have to find emergency child care for Emma for 6 days. And thrilled that I didn't have to listen or SEE gruesome details regarding a homicide.
A HUGE thank you to Bonnie and JJ who watched my daughter all day long as I became fast friends with strangers in my community and completed my civic duty with pride. THANK YOU GUYS!!
“When you go into court, you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty” - Norm Crosby
PS - On a complete side note, I rode my new bike for the FIRST time this morning (10 miles) and all I can say is WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Move over swimming, there's a new favorite in town.
