Jury Service Pt 1

[mlerules]

Finally got called onto a jury panel this morning. Sounded like an interesting case: 2-3 day criminal trial involving charges of cocaine possession. Apparently, however, someone from an earlier in the day panel had walked back into the jury assembly room and proclaimed something about the case which a half-dozen or so of the several dozen of us in the courtroom heard. (I wasn't one of 'em). Once the judge discovered this, he met behind closed doors w/the attorneys, came out, shook his head, said he hadn't dealt with this in either his several years as a judge or his quarter-century as a criminal defense attorney, and sent us all back to the jury assembly room where we were promptly dismissed for lunch. They're postponing the trial until next week or so when the chances of a tainted jury're gone.

Luckily it's a lovely Wednesday out so I walked up to the great Portland Farmer's Market for a numbly lunch, free music & dance, some good people-watching, and tasty 'n' juicy fresh local nectarines. We shall see what happens this afternoon. If I don't end up on a jury, my service will end and I'll be ineligible to return for the next two (2) years.

Comments

[deviantgrrrl.livejournal.com]

Wait, Portland doesn't do volunteer service? That seems odd, but I think I'm kind of in support of it. It definitely ups the odds of getting a jury of your peers...unless your a retiree. Hmmm...

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Nope, it's jury service w/summons 'n' all. They do a very good job of explaining the importance of our right to a jury trial and pointing out that this is the most involved in the judicial process/goverment we ever get (no mention of being on the other side of the bars though ;-). Ultimately I was let go w/out serving on a jury, but I did get called for another panel and went through voir dire...and it was a very worthwhile day.

Unlike all the times I served in SoCal, it wasn't mostly retirees but was instead a really nice cross-section of the community.

[deviantgrrrl.livejournal.com]

That's awesome. How is it viewed there? Is it so normal that people don't whine about their civic duty?

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

The judge in the afternoon session made a point of asking the panel what/how they felt/thought, and even those who'd started by being PO'd for losing time at work ended up feeling that it was a worthwhile experience, which pleased me quite a bit. Folks here in general are more tuned into being a part of a community, part of what makes it feel more like a (somewhat close-knit) small-town than (a big impersonal) big-city.

[deviantgrrrl.livejournal.com]

*throws both hands up in the air*
This! This is yet another reason why I need to think about Portland!

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

If'n you can find a job here, it's a WONDERFUL place to live!

[deviantgrrrl.livejournal.com]

And that, my love, is the rub. For myself and a certain young man of your acquaintance. Perhaps in some years when the economy is more stable. *wistful sigh*

[mlerules.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. My digits will be crossed... Hoping to see you both up here in the PacNW come Oct anyway.