I got booted
Well Jury Duty was swift and fast today. I got up and as planned after talking with Laila I drove down to the 24th Street trolley station and I caught the San Diego Trolley downtown.
I was supposed to get to the courthouse by 7:45 AM but the trolley was so slow I got there at 7:55 AM despite catching the trolley at about 7:15. The trolley was really crowded and so I had to stand the whole way but I didn’t have to try and find parking and all.
Also with Comiccon in town and a huge wreck on Harbor Drive just outside the NASSCO Shipyard it would have taken me forever to get there.
Anyway I got there and went through security, got my paperwork, took my chair, and then we watched a movie about jury duty and a judge gave us a briefing.
We then listened as names were called and people had to go answer questions about thier apperwork and things like that. They finally got to a point where they started calling people over to the jury office to be assigned to court rooms. They were calling about 6 at a tme for awhile and then they called a huge group of 25. I figured that was for the long case.
All of a sudden my name was called and I was the only one called. That had me wondering so I wnet over and they gave me an envelope and sent me to a courtroom in the criminal court building. I gave them the envelope and they asked me to wait outside, then all of a sudden the 25 people called earlie showed up.
I staretd thinking, oh no, not another long case. I know my job supports it, but after the last time if I were to have to go for another long period I would be worried that they might have to let me go. I also figured I would get released right away due to the last trial after finding for the death penalty.
Anyway the baliff came out and called role and then invited us into the courtroom. The judge arrived and then she hit us with the news that we if selected would be sittiing on the criminal grand jury if selected. That one had me worried, as there would be no defense attorney’s to kick people off th jury.
She then started calling names and filled up the jury box and the alternates, then heard reaons why people couldn’t serve that long. I was lucky to have not been called and then as they started excusing folks and filling the seats, my name was still not called.
I was also worried about the questions being asked, like are you a US Citizen, are you a resident of San Diego and what do you do for a living. I could see if my name had been called I would probably have to serve but thankfully my name was not called. The judge swore in the people that had been called up and thanked and excused the rest of us, so I went down to the jury office and they said turn in you badge, that my service was completed.
That was awesome, and so I went ahead and caught the trolley back to my car. The ride back to the car was not that great. The trolley was pretty much empty but some street person decided to sit across from me and I think he was trying to scope me out to rob me or something since I was dressed nice for court and all. He started telling me his life story and ow he lost everything in the stock market and was having to live on the streets.
He asked me what I did for a living so I told him and then he said wow I must be well off. I told him I get by and then he asked me why I was riding the trolley. i told him that I didn’t want to have to mess with driving and parking downtown.
Anyway, keeping up my guard I was careful to not alert him to the fact that I was getting off at the station until the trolley came to a complete stop then I excused myself and quickly left. He didn’t follow so that was cool. I then got the mail and came home. I called work to see if they needed me to come in but no one was there. I had also called from the courthouse but also didn’t get an answer.
I figure by the time I eat lunch and get back to the schoolhouse it will be time to turn around and come right back home, so I guess I will just stay home.
I switched on the news and they are talking about how the stock market dropped big time today. That is not good news.
Anyway, that is about it for now. I am going to make something to eat and wait for Laila to wake up. Then it will b a night of unification wars.
So that all worked out and now I will not have to worry about jury duty until next year at this time.
July 26 2007 11:57 am | Jury