Jury Duty

I’ve never been on a jury. I’ve been called to jury duty some 10 to 15 times in my life and once made it to the questioning phase, but never actually made it all the way to the jury. It’s a mixed blessing. Mostly when I’ve been called, I’ve been too busy to fulfill that duty and am relieved when I’m dismissed. But truth be told, I’d love to someday actually be on a jury. 

 

For one thing, I believe in this judicial responsibility down to my bones, even more so in the wake of 45’s 34 counts. The Justice System is one of three fingers in the dyke that have so far prevented the flood of fascism to overwhelm us. (If you don’t believe me, imagine if Hitler had been indicted and convicted. How different history would have been.) The other two? Term limits (again, think Hitler and today’s fascist dictators) and free speech. (Stephen Colbert making fun of Adolf? Never would have happened. Still doesn’t in far too many places). So a big YES to democracy’s judicial system, flawed as it may be (think present Supreme Court) and a big YES To every citizen’s responsibility to participate. 

 

Secondly, from my childhood Perry Mason to The Good Wife and The Good Fight, I’ve been a sucker for courtroom drama and scores of subsequent movies and TV series. I love the intrigue of the arguments and the necessity of actual reason and logic and fact over blind faith and conspiracy theories and especially, the satisfaction when the bad guys get their just desserts. (Which is where the “flawed” comes in as black folks get tossed into jail for decades for a single joint of pre-legal marijuana while 45’s 34 convictions may give him some mild community service, if that.)

 

Finally, it would be fascinating to be thrown together with 11 other people not of my choosing charged with the responsibility of sifting through the evidence and coming to agreement on a fair and just verdict. It’s the antithesis of the Facebook mentality of hanging out with only the people you already know and like and a good miniature look into the democracy we need, with conversations across all divides with a common goal of serving the common good. 

 

So all of this was in play when I got a jury summons to appear the week my grandkids were coming down to visit. There was my selfish desire to be with them pitted against my citizen responsibility. Again, I was faced with, “I’d love to do it, but this is not the time.” 

 

Down to the courtroom I went yesterday and sat in a room with some 60 other people while a judge greeted us and reminded us of all the pleasures of the duty while acknowledging there might be hardships. As she described the case we were gathered for, one that I thought from my notice would only last a week, it became clear that the case actually began next week and could go on to mid-July. Monday is the day I start teaching my Jazz Course in New Orleans, a course that only I can teach at a time that is unchangeable, with 30 people having paid tuition and flights and poised to arrive for the two-week professional development. Impossible to cancel!

 

So when she instructed us to either fill out a “hardship form” or a “jury questionnaire, I joined 20 or so others rushing to the hardship table. It was a short form and the choices were medical, financial, student, vacation plans or other. I tried to explain my situation in the tiny space provided under "other" and wondered what I would do if the judge denied my request. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long, as she read them on the spot and ten minutes later, began reading the names of those dismissed. Never have I been so relieved to hear my name called!

 

So for the public record, I do hope to serve on a jury someday and sincerely hope it can happen. Maybe when I retire.