To jury duty...
I was of 2 minds on this. I wish to do my civic duty. And I would probably be a good fair fact-based juror. Not to make a joke, but I've watched '12 Angry Men' several times. The movie is drama among people, but the content involves facts and perceptions about a trial.
But I've been through the jury selection process before once and that was reality. I sat in a waiting room on a hard chair. I had nothing to do unless they called my juror number. I sat bored to death the entire first day.
The second day, I was called for jury duty. After sitting on another hard wooden chair, the judge briefly explained the case and asked if anyone had a difficulty being fair and honest. I did. It related closely to a family matter. I was dismissed, but still subject to some other kind of case. For 3 more days. 8 Hours each day.
So I finally received another jury summons a week ago. I didn't want to go through that again for many reasons.
1. I wasn't going to sit in a crowded room with most people not wearing masks.
2. Still nothing to do for 8 hours (OK, I could have brought crossword puzzles).
3. Hard wood chairs in the waiting room..
4. Hard wood chairs in the jury box.
5. I "zone out" when people babble away and I can't participate in the discussion.
6. I need to pee too often.
7. Just "sitting" drives me nuts.
8. 30 minute drive to the courthouse (farther then I've driven in many years).
9. Can't feed The Mews for at least 9 hours and 2 need small timed meals.
So I spent some time thinking of ways to get out of jury duty. Sick cats, "zone-out", can't just sit, sick people around not wearing masks, etc.
If chosen, I will sleep through the trial". I considered "I will roll dice to determine guilt". I considered "In the jury room, I will neither speak nor vote". Anything to avoid sitting around for 8 hours for several days.
I feel horrible about all that, but I just won't sit among unmasked sick people and go bored out of my mind at the same time.
I should have read the entire Summons Form first. It asked a lot of questions. Was I a felon? Was I indicted? Was I in the military? Was I out of the US?
But there, near the bottom of the list, was the "out". "If you are over 70, do you want to the temporarily or permanently excused from jury duty"?
PERMANENTLY, YES! I filled out their online form and it suggests I am free of hard chairs, hours of doing nothing, and possibly sick people.
30-40 years ago, I would gladly have served.
