My Civic Duty

I performed my civic duty Monday. Sort of.

I received a summons for jury duty about a month ago. I was commanded to lay all other business aside and appear at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 29, at the court building in Berrien County. Since I'm not really sure about my county of residence, I contacted the clerk of court in Berrien County. I explained my situation to her and she was just as confused as me. She asked the judge and he said since I own property in Berrien County, my vehicle is registered in Berrien County, and I'm a registered voter in Berrien County, I'm a resident of Berrien County. As a resident, I had to serve. The only other jury summons I have received came from Tift County and came after Justin and I moved out of our house in Tifton. I wasn't a resident and was therefore, ineligible to serve.

I was somewhat excited about jury duty. That was Monday morning. As of later Monday morning, I was just like every other person who has ever had jury duty. I despised and hated jury duty. Upon arriving at the court building, I searched high and low for a parking space. I found one in the very far corner of the lot so I took it. I grabbed my reusable Publix bag with my wallet, gum, reading material, and my jury summons. I trekked across the lot and worked up a sweat by the time I made it inside. I should point out that I was wearing heels and dress clothes since the summons stated that we should wear court appropriate attire. To me, that involves dress clothes. To others, court appropriate attire is jeans and a sloppy t-shirt. To each his own.

I arrive at the door and am about to proceed through the metal detector when I am asked if I am there for jury duty. I smile and nod affirmatively. The deputy says, "You cannot take that bag in the courtroom." I gasp and before I can stop myself, I raise my voice and say, "Y'all should put that in the letter!" Very calmly, he says, "We don't send out the letters. That is the clerk's office." I huff and walk back to my car. I take everything out of the bag and walk back to the building, sweating even more and even more mad.

(This wristlet is very similar to what I call my wallet. It is about 3" x 4". I can see why it's a threat to security. Who knows what I could hide in there? An extra credit card or a couple of dollar bills?)

I walk back to the metal detector and the deputy points to my wallet and says, "They're not going to allow that bag either." I cock my head to the side and say, "You've got to be kidding me!" I all but shove the wallet in his face and say "This isn't allowed?!" He says, "No, ma'am." I stomp my foot and turn around and walk to my car. I dump the stuff in my front seat (I hide my wallet like usual) and march back to the building, carrying only my car key.

I make it through security and head upstairs. A man asks me if I have my jury summons. I look at him with evil eyes and say, "It's in my car. I've already walked across that parking lot three times and I will NOT go back to get it." He calmly says, "That's quite alright. We have extras that you can fill out." I scribble my name and address on the form and go stew on the stairs. The deputy walks by and very calmly says, "I'm very sorry about earlier. It's just that bags are not allowed and I agree that should be on the letter. Please complain to the clerk's office." Embarrassed, I said, "I'm so sorry about that. I overreacted and I'm very sorry." Seriously, I acted like a five year old throwing a tantrum. I'm an adult. That should never have happened. Several ladies in line with me said they, too, had to return to their vehicles and leave their purse. See...I wasn't the only one. Fortunately, we didn't have to show identification.

Jury selection is one of the most boring things I've ever endured. I know way more about the other people there than I care to know. The woman who announced that she and her husband are expecting their first child was one of my favorites. The judge did not ask that information and the rest of us could care less. We had to announce our name, general area of residence, occupation, spouse, and spouse's occupation using a microphone. It was not fun. By 12:30, only two juries had been selected so the judge released those of us who remained for lunch, but told us to be back by 1:30. I ate and made sure I was back by the appointed time. At 1:30, the judge stated that some things had happened and we would not be needed back until Wednesday at 1:30. I headed to work.

Tuesday afternoon, I received a call that my services as a potential juror were over and my check would be in the mail. I wasn't selected as a juror and I was kind of glad. I don't like change in my routine and sending someone to jail, even if they deserve it, is not in my usual routine.

So, to sum up this boring post, I hate jury duty. I only lost my temper with two people. I now know why people ditch it and try like mad to get out of it.