Jury Duty: Called to Serve

If you listened even just a little in history class, you know that President Abraham Lincoln gave what is one of the most famous speeches in American history known as the Gettysburg Address. The speech was given in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1863 by Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery. The speech ends with the rallying words for democracy to endure “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”. 

Though the news of our nation right now is less than optimistic at times, we are a blessed nation. We enjoy many freedoms that others do not. And with those freedoms also comes a sense of duty to our nation. At least it should.

I recently experienced one of our civic duties—reporting for jury selection. And quite honestly, I was not thrilled about the prospect. After all, I’ve never heard anyone exclaim how they could not wait to be called for jury duty; in fact just the opposite. 

I was advised of how to avoid getting selected and to be prepared to wait and wait and wait. I had so many things I could be doing besides sitting in a room waiting. And though I really did not want to be there, I felt my moral compass pull at my patriotic heart and fill me with a sense duty to my country, the land of the free, that so many have given their lives to defend.

So I was prepared to wait. I prepared a tote bag with the latest Women’s Running magazine, the new HGTV Magazine, The Help (which was a really great movie by the way) my calendar, grocery coupons and fliers. That should pass the time nicely. 

Entering the courthouse is a bit like entering the concourses at the airport, on a much smaller scale of course. I had to put my tote and purse on the conveyor belt to be scanned and I had to walk through the metal detectors. I was then directed to a large room where I waited with others for all the people who had been summoned to arrive and for officials to swear us in. This is where the wait seemed the longest as we did not begin at exactly 8 a.m. and we all sat there wondering what was to come. 

We were then called in groups, randomly picked by computer, and escorted by bailiffs to a courtroom. Inside the courtroom, the judge introduced himself, the attorneys and the nature of the case. The judge also explained our role as a juror if selected. At this point, the attorneys ask general questions of the group to decide if everyone could be an impartial juror and may ask more detailed questions if it appears that one cannot be an impartial juror. 

Jurors are instructed not to discuss the case with anyone. Jurors may not even discuss the case among themselves until the case is turned over to them for deliberation. 

Once both attorneys rest their case, the jurors go to a room (much like a conference room in an office building but with a door that locks behind you) to deliberate and reach a unanimous verdict. 

It was quite an enlightening experience reminiscent of social studies lessons and field trips to the capital but with a very real case to listen to carefully and sense of duty to serve as our founding fathers intended.