Yesterday’s foray into the halls of justice only got me as far as the jury pool. Previously, I had spent three days splashing around in that pool, before I was seated on a jury. That trial made for a much better story. This time I was only in the pool for three hours. After all the potential jurors were registered, a judge came in to give us an orientation. That had not happened before. He first superficially outlined the process and then proceeded to launch into a diatribe about low jury pay. It starts at $11/day but then goes up to $18/day if you are seated on a jury. I was not this time, so in about two weeks I should get a check of $11 for three hours. At least I made minimum wage. Wait it is $15 now!

Three bailiffs followed. Each one selected between 50 to 80 jurors and then marched them off. The first one called us by our juror number. We all had a numbered tag, identifying us as jurors. The numbers ran from single digits into the six hundreds. Mine was so nondescript that I kept having to look at it because I could not remember it. He left with his eighty heads and a little while later the next bailiff arrived. He chose to call us by name, but as he went, he also counted off the selected jurors. Halfway through a juror came up and told him that he had called his name, but that that was not his number. I am glad that I did not get seated on a jury with that dimbulb.

After the third bailiff left, I counted the remaining jurors and figured there were not enough for another jury. Interestingly, when I called the night before, the recording told me to report but then excused jurors who had been originally summoned for Tuesday, which I did not think was fair. I bet that they later thought that that was a mistake, because they needed a fourth jury.  

I got up early and headed to Clayton this morning. I parked in the designated parking garage and then walked to the courthouse. I inadvertently first went to the wrong building and only discovered this after going through security. I then had to go back outside again, cross the street and enter the correct building. This building’s security line was much longer, with lots of lawyers in line. Eventually, I got in. Getting to the jury room, I checked in and waited, and waited, and waited. Three juries were called. Usually with about eighty people for twelve spots. After those three juries left the pool was pretty empty. Counting heads, I figured that there were not enough people left for another trial. Sure enough, a few minutes later we left behinds were dismissed. So, after only three hours I headed home, done for the day, done for the week, just done.

Abraham Lincoln is frequently quoted as saying, “The greatest service of citizenship is jury duty”. This phrase highlights the essential role citizens play in upholding the justice system and the Constitution, framing jury service as a vital civic responsibility rather than just a burden.