Trick or Treat

[gerisullivan]

I'm on my way upstairs to change into serious clothing, for that is what the Massachusetts juror information guide says to wear to court.

Then I'll head west to Springfield for my first-ever experience with jury duty. I have to be there at 8:00 am, and I have no idea whatsoever of what morning rush hour from the Pike into Springfield is like. None. I am trusting that it's better than morning rush into Logan -- I would have had to leave well over an hour ago if my previous early morning trip from Wales to Logan was anything close to normal. Curiously enough, traffic was the worst at Worcester that morning.

If I understand the paperwork and recorded message correctly, I'm #1 on the standby juror list. I'll probably spend several hours sitting it a room. All of my previous court experiences have been interesting in one way or another; I expect this one will be, too.

May your Halloween be a treat.

Comments

Court Dress

[benveniste.livejournal.com]

I show up for jury duty in a suit and tie, just as I was trained.

The first time I was seated, the plaintiff elected to use their last peremptory challenge without asking me as much as a question. I didn't even see them glance at my info sheet.

The other time I got as far as the jury box, it wasn't until after the judge questioned me in a sidebar with the attorney's:
Q: You've done criminal defense work, right?
A: Yes, your honor, but only one case.
Q: But it's your wife who trains cops and parole officers?
A: Yes, your honor.
Q: Do you feel you can decide fairly based on the merits of the case.
A: Yes, your honor.

I was then seated, and this time the defense tossed me off.

Re: Court Dress

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

The guy I was sitting next to works for Connecticut's Corrections Department. He's never made it on to a jury yet, either.

Yesterday, he held the #1 card in the jury pool. He didn't even have a chance to get tossed off -- about a hundred of us sat in the jury pool room for four hours, then they sent us all home. No juries were going to be empaneled that day after all. They'd expected two -- the first settled and the second was still futzing with paperwork and they could tell it was going to be Monday before they got around to empaneling a jury for it.

It was a really nice holding pen. Reasonably comfy furniture, spacious, civilized. We were allowed to use our cell phones except when the live judge was there talking to us. I could have even taken my computer in and worked while sitting around. I had no idea.