Sometimes I'm Closed Minded

All right. Yes. I messed up.

I was summonsed back in April for jury duty. At that time, I didn't want to have to be gone from class. The state testing was coming up, and I needed to be in school preparing my students, as best I could, for these tests. So, I deferred my jury service. You can defer your jury time any time up to one year of the first summons.

For some inane reason, I chose July 12. Now, I had no intention of actually getting on to a jury. I've been on a jury twice before, so I have done my duty. I guess I chose July 12 because I thought (1) I'd just have gotten back from the NEA convention in New Orleans, and (2) it was the last week that my girls were involved in their summer stock musical camp. I figured I could report for two days and that would be it.

I reported on Monday. I sat around in the jury room, and eventually was called to be one of 35 potential jurors for a case. I was a safe 27. We were led to the court room by the bailiff. The case was a civil case; a woman was suing a major furniture/home store because she tripped on something metal in their parking garage. Even this trial was to take a week. Luckily, being number 27, I never really made it into the jury box; the jury was approved by both lawyers before my number came up. Good.

I reported back to the courthouse the next day. I sat in the same holding room, reading, until they dismissed us for lunch at 11:30. We weren't to report back until 1:30. Two hours. I went and got myself something to eat, and then went to the nearby outdoor mall. I got some items for my younger daughter who was turning 12 on Thursday. I eventually made my way back to the courthouse and checked in, where I continued to read. Finally, finally, they called out the names of 60 potential jurors. They called my name.

I went up and got the questionaire they required of us. Hmmm. The trial yesterday didn't have a questionaire. As I read the questions, I guessed the reason. The case yesterday was a simple civil case of a "fall and sue" type. These questions, however, were about child abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, non-custodial parents, etc. I could guess what the trial was going to be about. No wonder they needed 60 potential jurors when the civil case from yesterday only needed 35.

After a bit, the bailiff led us into the courtroom. The judge greeted us, and then gave a brief overview of the case. This man sitting in front of us had been charged with the rape of a thirteen year old girl two years ago. I knew the case would be something like this, and I knew I could not be open minded enough to do this case, even if I wanted to. I had answered "yes" on the questionaire to the question that asked, in so many words, if we would be biased to a case about sexual abuse of a minor. Yes, yes, yes, I'd be biased...especially when the victim is the same age now as my older daughter.

So I sat through the opening intro of this case, and when the judge told us how long it was expected to go, and we were to speak up if this was a hardship, I remained silent. I knew from the day before that they would then be asking us if we could remain impartial with this case, and I would speak up that no, there was no way in hell I could be impartial, and they'd excuse me. So I just sat and listened while 25 of the 60 jurors gave their reasons why they couldn't be available for the case, and were excused by the judge.

Then, however, it was 4:30, and the judge decided to excuse us all for the day, and we were to come back the next day. Now the third day of jury duty that I had not counted on.

I came back the next day, the third day. I checked in and sat in the holding room. I sat and read, and sat and read. My butt hurt. Finally they told us that they were waiting for more jurors since so many had left the day before, so we were all excused for lunch until 1:30. 1:30? This was not my plan. I could see this day stretching out with nothing being decided, and then I'd be told to come back again the next day. A fourth day. And Stella's 12th birthday. No way.

I walked around town, going to a little bookstore and buying some books for my girls. It was a beautiful day-the kind of beautiful Pacific Northwest day without any clouds and temps in the upper 70s. I regretfully returned to the courthouse at the appointed time with dread in my heart. I could not let this continue on to the next day! Stella would cry.

I returned to the third floor this time and not the holding room. But still, I waited and waited. Finally about 2 pm the bailiff came and led us into the courtroom. The judge then called out the first set of juror numbers. That group was to remain in the courtroom. I wasn't one. I was glad.

Then he called out a second group of jurors. Those jurors were to return the next day at 9 am. I could tell by the numbers he called that these people were jurors who had reported that day for jury duty, whereas I had been there two days prior. But, still I thought maybe I'd be excused because of the way I had answered questions on my questionaire.

But no. The judge told us that anyone who wasn't called in the first two groups were to report THE NEXT DAY at 11 am. Damn! I just couldn't report the next day-it was Stella's birthday! She was already a bit disappointed that she had play practice that night so she couldn't go to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner. I couldn't understand why I had to come back when I knew eventually they'd excuse me because the defense would not want me on the jury.

So, when the judge asked if anyone had any questions, I was one who raised my hand. I asked if I could speak to the bailiff when we were through. A couple other people asked the same. The judge made a joke about the bailiff's popularity. When we finished, and walked out into the hall, I waited for the bailiff.

The first guy told her he was a diabetic, and wouldn't be able to handle the afternoons. Then it was my turn. I was shaking, but told her that not only was I a mom of two girls, one of which was the same age as the girl in the case, but I was also an elementary teacher. I told her that my whole life pretty much revolved around kids and keeping them safe, happy, and pointing in the right direction. I told her there was no way I could be open minded about this case, and I didn't even want to have to listen to any details. After listening to the third guy, she went back into the courtroom. About 10 minutes later she came out. She excused the diabetic. And she excused me. Thanks goodness.

That night on the news I heard how two guys who had been in prison for 17 years for the rape of a woman had been proven, through DNA, to be innocent. They were released. So it does happen that someone can be wrongfully accused, I guess. I just don't want to be part of it.