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 Saturday - Aug 27, 2005

Jury Duty - Again

I received my first jury summons when I was 27 and have been receiving them on a regular basis for 28 years. By regular basis, I mean every three to five years. When you consider that I have a ponytail down to my waist I'm especially surprised that I was picked to serve once again. 

I spent 3 days this week serving on a civil trial that was one of those nuisance law suits that you hear so much about. Not as silly as the 'spilled hot coffee lawsuit' but just the same, it never should have gone to court. Both plaintiff and defendant spent considerable money on expert witnesses and when the show was finally over, it took barely an hour for us to deliberate.  I feel sorry for the plaintiff who was a sickly women and obviously struggling to make ends meet but she is definitely worse off now than when she started.  She never should have started. I’m guessing that she’s the type of person who insisted on going forward even when advised not to do so. Would an ethical lawyer have advised her to pursue this?  Lawyers don't do that. No way!

Unfortunately, all the trials I have been on were along similar lines. Not a good track record for my 28 year involvement with the jury system.  In the past I’ve never considered trying to get out of jury duty but next time I’ll be reluctant to go. No, I don’t have any ideas for a better system but I gotta say, as far as serving, I think I’ve paid my dues.  Frankly, I think they should send me a gold watch and never call again.

I’m not fishing for a gold star but in the interest of having something to post, the following are some of the books I read this summer. Oooo, good boy.