Surely, you remember this? Well, two weeks ago I got another notice. This time, they let me know that I have failed to appear. That my group number was indeed called, and I didn’t show up. I’m such a rebel, [as you can surmise from my postings], that I would do something like this intentionally. They’re so cool about it though, that they just gave me a new date. Imagine that! This time, when I called, I was told (by the automated system; there are no live operators any longer, that’s another thing - did you happen to also know that?) that since I am a failure to appear, I can have no more extensions and must appear on the date specified, if my group number is called the evening before.
Okay, here’s where it gets cloudy. The date on my new summons was for yesterday, Tuesday, August 8. Most jury duty dates start on Monday. And indeed, when I called Monday night (every time I called, because I repeatedly called every 5 minutes thinking it would [a machine, of course] finally remember to update the recording, and finally, at 10:30 p.m., I realized that, no, they are not updating the recording and I could go to sleep), all they had were the groups to appear on Monday. So, just to be safe, and finally clear my [good] name, I dropped Drew off at a friend at 8 a.m. and scooted to the Jury Assembly room at the lovely Torrance courthouse.
Turns out, the system was down Monday night and everyone was wondering if they needed to be there. It also turns out, (and I did note to the nice gentleman behind the window that there were NO instructions to indicate this), that when you get a notice, you have to call every night that week (not just the first night) to find out if your group number is called. It might not be called the first night, but, he promised, it would be called later in the week. That’s why I’m a failure. I didn’t call after the first night. He laughed and said it’s actually not as serious as it sounds, that I can serve today and be done with it, or I can wait until later in the week when my number is called.
No, thank you! I’ll stay. So basically, what happens, is that you sit in a room all. day. long. And wait. If they get a call from a courtroom, they call a list of names and you go up to the court. I got called around 11:30, and made my way upstairs with about 25 others to Department F (as in Frank), where they were looking for jurors for a 9 day trial. And what a trial this will be, I noticed as the defendant sat there, defiantly looking at us all file in with his hair in a net and little pigtails sticking out. The defense attorney didn’t even budge or look up, but the DA’s were checking out each and every one of us. I know what they were looking for (who looks conservative, who looks like they might flake, judging socio-economic levels and prejudices. I love this sort of thing! The defense does the same exact thing, but backwards! Who looks liberal; who looks like they might be a card-carrying member of Amnesty International; maybe that housewife is a closet NRA supporter, we can’t be too sure, so let’s disqualify her, etc.).
I knew I had good reason to be excused, but only the Judge can do so. After they excused everyone who could stay for a 9 day trial, the judge calls each of us up individually to hear our excuses. I practiced my mantra, over and over again, “I am the primary caregiver for three minor children”, which he didn’t even bat an eye at, and excused me. I made it back to the Jury Assembly room just in time to be let out for our hour and a half lunch break.
What will I do with all the time?! I considered thrifting, but would have had to travel too far. I ended up at Barnes & Noble, because the book I initially brought with me was not keeping my attention and not doing its’ job of passing the time quickly enough. I never, ever buy books. I go through them too quickly, so it’s really a waste. (Except for cookbooks. I buy cookbooks – because they can be used over and over.) After finishing the last couple of heavy books I read, I decided I really needed something light and trivial. While perusing the aisle upstairs, I quickly decided on Prep, by Curtis Sittenfeld (who, by the way, is a girl! How preppy-cool is that?) and then on a whim, added Good Grief, by Lolly Winston, because I liked the cover (furry pink bunny slippers). What? Like you've never choosen a book because you like the cover? Puh-leeze! I always do! (look at it! it's cute! really cute!)
Prep is just what I needed! I was a quarter of the way through it when we were dismissed for the day at 2:50 p.m. and given our Certificate of Jury Completion (you know, for my boss).
So, now on my nightstand (and, finally getting to the title of the post) are my new book selections for the week. It’s nice to have some backups there. By the way, in true Thrift Thursday fashion (but, this is not my TT submission!) the night stand is a dressing table/desk I bought 15 years ago at a garage sale for $5. It was an ugly brown with a Formica top that I pried off and then refinished. It was initially whitewashed, and then about 4 years ago I hauled it back downstairs and painted it black, distressed it and added the glass knobs. It’s one of my favorite pieces in the whole house and I’d be hard-pressed to find another piece, in this condition, for that price today!
So, I am so glad the Jury issue is over! It made me so anxious and nervous, as most unknown situations do. It really wasn’t too bad, and really, if I didn’t have children I would have loved to stay and be placed on a jury (even though that possibility is remote!). Obviously, I like the trial system or I would have never become (and stayed) a paralegal for so long. But, somewhere, sometime, I’m sure I’ll get called again and maybe I’ll be able to pass for a middle-aged matron who might look conservative enough for a DA to pick. Maybe.
