I'm sad to report that I was not among the chosen people

I did not get picked to be on the jury in today's civil trial. I was ready to serve but they did not call my name.

The case involved a multi car accident where one car rear ended another then the car that hit the first car got hit by another and as they people were getting out of the second car the third car got hit sending it deeper into the second car and it caused some injuries to the people who were in the second car. At least that's what I think happened anyway. So the people who hit the first car were suing the people in the fourth car for medical bills and pain and suffering, I think. Alas, I'll never know because they did not pick me. They did read out my first name and I was hopeful but then the last name they called out was not mine so I sat back and waited. But I waited in vain.

The two attorneys then had a chance to dismiss any of the jurors but they decided to dismiss none and the judge then said that he had never in all his days on the bench see two attorneys not dismiss at least one juror. Judge S. then smiled and thanked all of us on jury panel "A" for coming in and he told us to call in sometime this weekend. I've got another 6 weeks of being on call to go so my hope springs eternal, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Many are called, few are chosen

Woo hoo! I've got to report prior to 9 AM in the morning for jury service. I'll probably get "struck" but who knows, I may also get to serve on a jury. Either way, I'm excited to do my civic duty.

Objection overruled!

I'm back way earlier from my first day of jury service than I thought I would be and here's the lowdown on what's going down:

I'm serving on a civil jury panel pool for the next two months. What that means is I can be called to serve on any civil jury trial in the next two months but the odds are I won't even be called to serve because most civil trials in my area are settled out of court or the attorneys decide that they will take their chances with a judge only trial. According the judge who spoke to us this morning, there is an average of two civil trials that require a jury impanel during each two month term.

So what happens now is I have to call in after 5 PM most every weekday to see if I have to come in the next day or not, and due to the holiday at the end of the week they did not even schedule any cases this week so the next time I call in is next Tuesday. If there is a case where they intend to use a jury then they want about 40 0r 50 potential jurors to come in. They need that many to come in because many of those who do come in will get winnowed out due to attorney objections.

I'm still excited about serving and I hope to get to be on a jury but like I said before, the odds are against me this time around. Maybe if I get recalled in two years, if you serve on a jury pool then you don't have to serve for another two years, I'll get called to serve on a criminal jury pool and I'll get to be on a jury.

Ah well, whatever may come, I'm proud to do my civic duty without whining.

Objection!

It'll be light posting for me today until I get done with jury duty. I'm heading downtown in about an hour to do my civic duty and who knows when I'll be done. Anyhoo, I'll be back later and until I am check out the fine folks on my blog roll or get off your ass and go outside, it is summer after all.

See ya later my little defendants.