A month ago I received a jury summons in the mail. I had mixed emotions. I had been called in Kitsap county many years ago, and was one of the first excused from the selection process. I didn't think the results would be any different for this one. However, I did get a little nervous about the fact that it was Superior court. What if I get picked for some month long trial?
I arrived at 8 am Monday morning and checked in at the Jury assembly room. The room is big with several hundred chairs, as well as desks in the back and an overflow room that looked like a remote work station. The room was already mostly ful, I found a seat with no neighbors and grabbed it. Soon every seat in the house was taken. Free wifi is provided as well as a break room with a refrigerator and microwave for those who bring lunch.
Around 8:25 the orientation began. I realized then and there that the times we are given include a 25 minute buffer for those who can't get places on time. She went through the rules and the processes and gave us some history too. in 1956 the State passed a law giving jurors $10 a day for thier service. That rate has not changed. No cost of living increase for Jurors! maybe we should strike? ;)
A real live Superior Court Judge came out and talked for a while, Discussed the history of juries, dating back thousands of years. Some ancient cities had public trials in which the entire town was the jury! A time when Hung trial probably had a slightly different meaning!
They explained that what would happen next is, we fill out our juror information card and when they need a jury, the computer automatically and randomly spits out the names of the people in the room.
The first case was called around 9:10. 40 people for a 12 man jury.. Wow. 40 minutes later, they called another set of 40. Then again with another set. I'm still a free man. Then she comes out and says thatsa all for Superior court today, but they are going to use us to fill district court juries. Great I thought, A nice 2 day trial. I wasn't picked. Break time. We get 20 minutes. I left to get Tea.
After break she calls out another set. Bingo. I'm called. She then says, anyone not called, you are free to go home. I was told to take an 1.5 hour lunch and come back at 1:30. At 2:45 she comes out and tells us the case I was picked for is not going to trial after all. I am free to go, be back tomorrow at 8:45 am. You have to be available for two days. If not called or picked for a jury at that time, you are free. Half way there.
Tuesday am. Same story. We all sit around, but no orinetation today. We all were here yesterday. 9:15 they call out a Superior court selection. I get picked #9. She calls out a total of 90 jurors. 90??? uh oh.. somethings up.
She asks for the first 45 to proceed to the 9th floor. We get up there and the Bailiff is waiting for us. She has us line up in numeric order. We enter the court room and the first 15 are seated in the jury box and the remaining 30 are in the wooden pews in the back.
The Judge reads off the rules, mainly what are the legal reasons to get out of the jury.
1. Missing a life event, like a baby birth or a wedding.
2. Financial hardship to you, not your employer.
3. Medical reason.
We are sworn in and the Defense and Prosectution begin to ask if anyone has any of these 3 reasons. Here we go.. let the show begin. Tons of hands go up. When its over, at least 15 of the 45 are gone. We go back down to the jury assembly room. It is almost 11. I know they are never going to even get the 45 other jurors seated before lunch. But they try and we have to sit there. Finally we are let go for lunch at 11:30 and back at 1:30. I went over to the office to check in and Prashant and I went for lunch.
After lunch, we all get called in. Enough have been excused that we fit into one group. There are about 65 of us. The Bailif changes up the lineup slightly, but I am still #9 in the same #9 spot.
We get into the room and there is more talk and we get to hear the charges. One person pulled the liberal card. She claimed she felt it was unethical to send someone to prison. The Judge stepped in and explained that we do not have anything to do with that. Again, our job is to decide the facts, we don't sentence. The Judge excused her anyways. Two women start crying. bam, they are gone. A bunch of people whine about work and losing hours. Some may be legitimate but some sounded suspect. I wanted the Judge to remind everyone we are under oath, but it probably didn't matter.
The next am I am stuck in the worst traffic I have seen in two years. I left my house at 7:30 and am in danger of being late. I got in a few minutes late, but thanks to the buffer, I'm plenty early.
We get called shortly after 9 am. We all go up to the 9th floor to meet the Bailiff. She puts in a different order again, but I am again #9 in chair #9. She is reading of the numbers, and its she is up to about 35 of the 70 remaining and she stops calling numbers. I am too close to the front to make out what is happening in the back of the line. After a few minutes, about 30 people head for the elevetors. They are done and suddenly we are down to 35 people left! Odds are changing fast.
We take more questions from the Defense and Prosecutor. I shared some personal experiences. It is almost 11 now and they decide they are ready to make the selections.
At this point, they back fill the few empty seats in the juror box and then start the process. They can only excuse people in the jury box, so they kick one off the out of the box and the next person in line in the pews moves to the box. Soon its down to one chair they keep filing and canning. I'm pretty sure my fate is sealed now. Is it too late to talk more? I could add a few things! oh my.. its getting real. The Defense says he is content with the box, the Prosecutor lets a few more go and its over. I am on the damn jury. I felt it wasn't that they wanted me, but didn't not want me enough. Luck of the draw. If I had #46, I would have been done with Jury duty at this point.
But that didn't happen. The trial is expected to go until November 14. Wow... I'm still kinda in shock about the whole thing. I have questions. Can I be impartial? Can I be a good juror? Can I pay attention during hours of witness testimony? Can I keep my emotions in check during the testimony. I don't know. They don't ask these questions beforehand. I believe I am about to learn a lot about the court system and myself.
I cannot share details of the trial of course, but once it is completed I will post about how it all went down and my jury experience.
Oh, and the bright side? I didn't get picked for the Jury of the trial that is to last two months. wow.. how can anybody do that?
