So many excuses not to report for jury duty.
We just returned from two weeks away on vacation. I have jet lag, piles of laundry, mail to sort through and deal with, and weeds galore.
And there’s the sitting. Lots of sitting is involved during jury duty, right? Sitting while you wait to be picked or not. Sitting while you are listening to opening arguments, witness testimonies, closing arguments, judge’s comments, and finally deliberation. So much sitting! Sitting is painful for me at the moment. I have a bulging disc pinching a nerve in my right leg from my hip to my foot and I’ve spent the summer in pain, in the doctor’s office, taking various medications to stop inflammation and others to stop pain, having x-rays, and an MRI. My insurance company, as all do, has a plan for me. It’s not my doctor’s plan. He’d skip right to the injection I’ll finally have one week from today. But in the meantime it’s meds.
So off I go to an unfamiliar city, not too far from home, to a courthouse. A courthouse where the future of a young man will be determined. Of course I’m chosen. You knew I would be. But an understanding judge, who is familiar with my situation because of my paperwork, asks me to approach the bench and speak with him and the lawyers for the defense and prosecution. Is my head clear enough to serve? Will I be able to sit and focus without much discomfort? He asks? “Yes,” I respond. Because you know what? I’m here. It’s my duty, and it’s a privilege to serve. How many places around this world would deny this young man his day in court? How many places around this world would deny him the right to an unbiased hearing by a jury of his peers. “Yes,” I respond. “I’ll be fine. This is important.”
And who was randomly chosen jury foreperson to guide the deliberations and announce the verdict? I bet you can guess.
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Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here each Tuesday and every day in March. Won’t you join us?
Wondering and Wandering 
I love your voice in this, so personal and informative. I can hear your range of emotion. Jury duty can be a pain, but it is fascinating.
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So tempting to say, “No, I cannot serve today.” So many citizens would do just that. Thank you for not being one of them.
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Go, you! Loved this. Thank you for being a good citizen!!
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I was hoping that you’d slice about this experience:) Your message about not falling prey to excuses when you have a duty is one that can’t be repeated enough. I think that you would be the perfect person to serve as the foreperson!
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Christie, what a great citizen you are, despite the pain you are going through. Jury duty is not my favorite pastime, especially in summer, but you on the other are noble in your effort. Why not choose you with your strong sense of ethics to be the foreman. I hope you continue writing about this experience as a role model for all of us who are not keen about serving.
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Christie, I know that pain. I had disc surgery on C-5 24 years ago. The pain was unbearable and I had young children. I hope you have made it through the jury duty. But also, please take care of yourself. Your back has a long time ahead of it. You need it to heal.
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