What a stupid waste of time.

The last time I was on a jury was just over two years ago. I went through selection on Monday, served Monday and Tuesday, and by Tuesday I was getting very sick; on Wednesday, I didn’t know what else to do so I went in anyway, they excused me and paid me. That was to be the last day of the trial and then the verdict. I drove approximately 192 miles for this honor. I was then sick for about two weeks and was unable to eat for a week of that. What a mess!

That was district court, today, I had to appear in circuit court. Thankfully, that’s just a few miles from my house and Sarah stayed over last night to watch Elijah for me. But compared to district court, circuit court is like hick court. :P

Apparently, our city is too good to properly clean their sidewalks and on my block and a half walk to the courthouse (due to not being able to find any stupid parking) I fell twice on the ice. The first time, I hurt my knee and got a lovely stain on my nice black pants. The second time, I don’t remember how I fell, but I fell on ice I didn’t see until it was too late. It was there due to snow melting yesterday then re-freezing over night. Let’s just say that the city’s lucky I didn’t get seriously hurt (I think each time I fell forwards, I could have fallen on my belly and seriously hurt myself and/or the baby) or I’d be bringing my own lawsuit!

We got in there and sat, and sat, and sat, and sat. Seemed like forever in these horribly hard wooden benches with no cushioning. We had introductions and the swearing in of the jury, lots of questions. The longer we sat there the more uncomfortable I got, and more in pain I felt in various places. I just kept thinking how, though I normally don’t mind doing jury stuff and would like to serve, I just wanted to go home and was hoping not to get selected. It took them the whole time to finally ask a question that I could use to get myself out of there: “any other issues? Pressing engagements or health concerns?” Yes, Judge. Thank you.

So I am sure they weren’t going to pick me but again we sat there and sat there and sat there while they did final selections and talked to the 3 people that said they had issues about impartiality or something but didn’t want to say in front of everyone. Finally they come back and the judge has an announcement: they settled the case.

Some people actually cheered but I was thinking, what the heck!? The judge swore that we were still important and it wasn’t a waste of time that “sometimes cases aren’t able to settle until a jury appears.” What the heck? Either settle or not but don’t call all of us in there just to waste our time! I mean, what could they not have settled before that was suddenly settleable?

I mean, whatever, everyone got to go home, but still, I don’t get it. And, of course, the whole couple of hours utterly wore me out for the rest of the day. I don’t think I’ll be able to drag myself out of this arm chair until it’s time for bed… blah.

The only really funny thing that happened was when the defense attorney asked if anyone on the panel knew anyone else. At first, I think they were all confused because they’d already asked us a thousand times if we knew the parties or the attorneys, etc. But then he said again, anyone else on the jury panel? Some people started raising their hands and then slowly everyone just burst out laughing. Someone stated loudly that it was our county, everyone knows everyone else! Apparently, though, everyone but me! I think I was the only person there who didn’t already know at least one person on the jury panel. So then he asked if that would be a problem if you had to serve with a friend or a relative. No one had any problems, of course.

Also, speaking of knowing people… I was never asked the right questions to give these answers so I never said anything but I knew who the defense attorney’s assistant was. She used to go to our church but I don’t really know know her. Took me a second even to realize that I know who she is. She also lives next door to someone I know so I’ve heard stories. Also, the prosecuting guy said something about his firm and how they advertise (so they’re well known around here) and did anyone have a problem with attorneys who advertise? No one did but he also didn’t ask the right question that would have me admit that my mom used to be a court reporter and I haven’t heard anything nice about you guys!! lol (Not that I would ever be impartial, you guys know that…)