My morning as Juror #45
Today I got to do my civic duty---jury duty.
It all began with the summons I received two months ago indicating that I was to report to the Dorchester District Court at 8 am on August 29, 2006. Despite my standby status, yesterday I received a notice that I was indeed to appear.
Keith and I sleepily got up about 6:30 am and left for the Dorchester District Courthouse. Dorchester sort of has, well, let us say the reputation as a ghetto as there is a lot of the city's crime, particularly violent crime, in that district. It certainly lacked some, shall we say, some visual charm. That is not really one hundred percent true---there are some areas of Dorchester that overlook Dorchester Bay and it is quite nice. In fact, there was some gorgeous neighborhoods that we stumbled upon with huge gorgeous Victorian houses. But the next block over would be run down, then we'd stumble back into another residential area with green lawns.
I reported promptly with an empty stomach and read my material in the Jury Pool Room.
9:00 am: We handed over our jury questionaires
9:30 am: The pool watched an informational video on how important it was to serve and how civil and criminal trials work.
10:00 am: A justice came in to welcome us and say hi and thank us for coming and speak about the importance of doing our civic duty. She further explained that everyone was aware of our presence, and that while we didn't know it, our very presence influences the day's events. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
10:20 am: The baliff excuses us for a 40 minute break. I went to Walgreens to get an anniversary card, some candy, and then saw a McDonalds where I purchased some fries.
11:00 am: I report back for duty and begin to read my Newsweek. Then my Time.
12:00 pm: I am so sick of reading, I get up and stretch and stare at the ground.
1:00 pm: The baliff bursts in and lets us know that the final case has been settled and that we are free to go. Yay! Apparently the presence of a potential jury was enough to get the parties to settle their cases out of court.
Massachusetts is a one day/one trial state (unusual, most states can commandeer a citizen for as many times as desired) which means that I am exempt from juror service for 3 years. Yay!!!!
It all began with the summons I received two months ago indicating that I was to report to the Dorchester District Court at 8 am on August 29, 2006. Despite my standby status, yesterday I received a notice that I was indeed to appear.
Keith and I sleepily got up about 6:30 am and left for the Dorchester District Courthouse. Dorchester sort of has, well, let us say the reputation as a ghetto as there is a lot of the city's crime, particularly violent crime, in that district. It certainly lacked some, shall we say, some visual charm. That is not really one hundred percent true---there are some areas of Dorchester that overlook Dorchester Bay and it is quite nice. In fact, there was some gorgeous neighborhoods that we stumbled upon with huge gorgeous Victorian houses. But the next block over would be run down, then we'd stumble back into another residential area with green lawns.
I reported promptly with an empty stomach and read my material in the Jury Pool Room.
9:00 am: We handed over our jury questionaires
9:30 am: The pool watched an informational video on how important it was to serve and how civil and criminal trials work.
10:00 am: A justice came in to welcome us and say hi and thank us for coming and speak about the importance of doing our civic duty. She further explained that everyone was aware of our presence, and that while we didn't know it, our very presence influences the day's events. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
10:20 am: The baliff excuses us for a 40 minute break. I went to Walgreens to get an anniversary card, some candy, and then saw a McDonalds where I purchased some fries.
11:00 am: I report back for duty and begin to read my Newsweek. Then my Time.
12:00 pm: I am so sick of reading, I get up and stretch and stare at the ground.
1:00 pm: The baliff bursts in and lets us know that the final case has been settled and that we are free to go. Yay! Apparently the presence of a potential jury was enough to get the parties to settle their cases out of court.
Massachusetts is a one day/one trial state (unusual, most states can commandeer a citizen for as many times as desired) which means that I am exempt from juror service for 3 years. Yay!!!!
posted by Alyssa at 9:43 PM
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