Starting this week I will begin my civic duty of jury duty. Everyone dreads jury duty and I have been no different - until lately.
In early August I received juror summons for selection for 2 trials. Just seeing 'Juror Summons' on that blue piece of paper made me groan. Jury duty? Really?? I've actually never known anyone who has been on jury duty, so I really didn't have anything to base my groaning on aside from what the general feeling is. It doesn't pay well ($20 per day!!) and you have to sit in a courtroom for who knows how long. Not exactly a fun thing, but while many people were suggesting I act crazy (a la Tina Fey aka Princess Leia on '30 Rock'), a part of me was really quite interested to see how the process went and to be a part of the justice system.
While I won't be talking about the trial I am on (not that I'm not allowed, but because it is not my place to write about it), this experience so far has made me think about my situation. With all the groaning and moaning about spending weeks in a courtroom, I hadn't really thought about the fact that I would play a role in the persons future. As I was sitting in the juror box after my selection it finally hit me. Whatever my fellow jurors and I decide will have a direct result on this persons future, whether they go to jail, have community service or are innocent. I always knew that jurors play an important role, but once I was actually selected the true meaning and importance really sunk in.
It is going to be an experience but I look forward to it.
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