Citizen Tamarika
by tamarjacobson
Yes, it’s true although I can hardly believe it myself. I toodled along to appear for Jury duty yesterday, taking a book with me so that I could while away the time before they would send me home. And presto! I was selected. #1 juror for a week or more civil trial of one kind or another.
This is not what I had in mind to do for the next week of my life. And yet … it might be interesting. The case, process … you know.
After all, I was all excited back in 1996 when I became a citizen. And citizenship comes with responsibility. I mean, I know that. Just not this whole week and well into next.
Blogging will suffer … take it on the head … for this jury duty thing lasts all day long with witnesses, council, judge and what have you.
Didn’t I promise me a post about Rhodos and my father’s fathers?
Soon … real soon, Tamarika …
tamarjacobson 
Mary, that is pretty much how I would describe the experience: not exactly enjoyable but I wouldn’t miss it. Really, really interesting in so many ways.
Yes, Winston, am pretty relieved it isn’t a criminal case, actually. This having-people’s-lives-in-my-hands type of deal isn’t too much fun!
Had I had a blog at the time of my one session of jury service I could have been posting for days …
It wasn’t exactly enjoyable – but in retrospect I wouldn’t have missed it.
As much of an inconvenience as this might be, it should provide a wealth of blog fodder. And at least you got a civil trial and not criminal court. The criminal court cases are juicier, but you could get sequestered; and there is always the nervousness of retaliation by the accused. Oh, you’re in a big city, so they wouldn’t be able to ID or find you like they could out in Podunkville.
Enjoy and take good notes!
Wouldn’t that be great? Share the proceedings blow by blow? Hmm … not going to happen.
Don’t they have wireless and an IRC backchannel? Bring a laptop!
Thanks everyone. It is going “smoothly” I guess. It becomes quite intense as we are dealing (judging?) with compensations for human pain and tragedy. The tough part will be having to make a decision that will affect the quality of people’s lives.
I hope it goes smoothly Tamar. Jury duty always seems to make little knots in everyone’s stomach….good luck.
Can being a juror ever be “fun”? I hope it’s a fairly uneventful week where you get to witness the process of the law and not a major trial requiring terrible things of the conscience and one’s beliefs. I once received a letter about jury duty, but I’d moved & it was out dated, and didn’t respond. I’ll be thinking of you during the upcoming week!
Civic duty . 🙂