Jury Duty

I arrive in downtown Sherman about 8:45 for a 9:00 jury summons at the old courthouse in the middle of the traditional town square. The square is surrounded by the offices of ambulance chasers, retailers had moved out to the highway years ago. Most of my extra 15 minutes was taken up trying to find a place to park in a downtown that hasn’t seen any new construction in decades. I wonder why all the retailers left?

I managed to find a seat in a full courtroom, roughly 250 people, about 30 of whom were in the hallway by the time everyone got there. The County Clerk started into her routine about 9:15. She wanted us to know that we were as important to democracy and our way of life as those soldiers fighting and dying in those two wars across the water … and she was really proud of us. She also wanted to know that through her hard work they have really made this jury thing much more efficient. We would be on a case or on our way home by 10:30. She turned the proceedings over to the security guard who told us to leave our guns and switchblades in our cars because they wouldn’t let us take them into the real courtroom across the street. …. And he told us how proud he was of us.

About 9:30 the Clerk read off the names of the 1st jury pool, there were 4 scheduled for this day. 9:45, the 2nd reading of names. 10:05, the 3rd reading of names is postponed because there were some people in the hallway at the courthouse and the judge didn’t want any comingling with a jury pool, heaven forbid. Take a 20 minute break. 10:30, hallway must be clear, the 3rd reading of names. The Clerk informs us that the 4th pool might not be needed. We need to wait for the judge to call but the Clerk is tired of us. She goes back to her office and leaves her assistant in charge, who has been waiting in the wings to tell how unbelievably wonderful all of us are for doing our duty today.

I beginning to think maybe this is voluntary, that I wouldn’t be arrested if I didn’t show up. I reread the summons, no such luck. 10:45 the judge has called and he is coming over to talk to us. 11:15 the judge finally shows up from his walk across the street, it should have taken him about 3 minutes. He kept us there because he wanted us to know how proud he was of us and what an important role we had played today in defending the free world. Ah freedom and the price we pay.