Tuesday, 27 February 2007
Beth: Civic duty, or permission to sleep more? You decide.
I have been summoned for jury duty for the first time ever. My summons date is in a few weeks. I've heard other people say that when they got a summons, there was a number they had to call the night before to see if they even needed to come in - not me. My letter is pretty much like an order: Be there at this time, and be prompt. Oh, and thanks for being a good citizen, and all that jazz.
I don't really mind, though; in fact, I'm kind of excited. I have always been intrigued with the jury duty process. I'm very interested to see how everything is run and quite curious to see what questions potential jurors get asked...if it makes it that far for me. Those who have "been there, done that" say it probably won't...
I am kind of even hoping that I get selected for a jury, or at least get called back for more than one day. Why? For one thing, it's in Grand Rapids. No 45 minute commute! Plus, I don't have to be there until 9 a.m. Yay for three more hours of sleep!! (THAT is the big one, of course.)
As luck would have it, though, I can't even manage to get out of the drive for even one day. The date of my summons is the exact same date as the Tri-Cities spelling bee...the one my paper sponsors...the one that, as education reporter, I must be at...so I'm going to have to drive out to work that night regardless of jury duty status. Curses!
Don't get me wrong, I still love my job...but the drive, particularly in the morning, is beginning to wear on me right now - especially with the terrible winter weather we've been having recently. I hate starting the day all nervous and tense. Last year at this time, we went on vacation for a week - and that must have made the difference. This year, I'm getting much more irritable about the drive.
So yeah, bring on the court cases! I know I'd be an excellent juror, Your Honor...
What other people had to say
Julie wrote:
I wish they'd pick me - it'd be so interesting. You'll have to tell me about about it, within the limits of appropriate confidentiality, of course.
From what I understand... the calling aspect might come in later, when you are finding out if they actually chose you from the pool of potential jurors.
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