The last week

This week is my last week for jury duty. I cannot believe it has been 4 months already. Although it was an inconvenience to go to jury duty twice a week, I think it may be hard to go back to work on a daily basis. Plus there are some people that I really enjoyed visiting with each week. It will be nice to finally get closer to getting caught up at work and now that I won't have to worry about this extra weekly commitment I can continue with my education. Now if only I could have a couple of days of vacation. With only working 3 days a week for the past 4 months I doubt my boss would agree to me taking time off from work.

recalled

Things have gone back to being pretty quiet on the old blog. Not so in real life though.

I guess I did end up jinxing myself. I was recalled for jury duty after all. However it was not due to the same reason I was originally called. Remember the out-of-state alternate juror? She was already there. I was actually the 2nd alternate juror that was called back to active status.

It has been 2 weeks now since I have been called back. The first week was pretty overwhelming (and a bit chaotic). Everyone else had weeks more experience with the process that I. I felt like everything was in super fast motion, but by the next week I felt much better about the entire thing.

Today's session was pretty full (due to the holiday) and made for a long day. But I am pretty happy to say that I think I am finally getting the hang of it. It is all so very interesting and I am glad that I get to be a part of it, even though it has pretty much turned everything else in my current life's schedule upside down.

alternate

Open Outlook. Create new email.

Dear Boss,

I have been chosen as an alternate juror.

Click Send......

*ring*ring*ring*

Hello this is the jury commissioner, one of the jurors has been excused and we need to call you back. You need to report tomorrow.

Immediately after clicking send I received the above phone call and of course while I am on this phone call I receive the email response from my boss telling me how happy she was that I was able to work.

I didn't mind being called back. What I did mind is that I knew the other people chosen as alternates had no plans of going back to sit on the jury. I think I was the only one that gave a work number and actually answered the phone. I do know that the first person they tried to call was unavailable as they had "left the state". I find that a bit hard to believe as everyone's schedule was gone over and no one had any vacation plans. I was told to sit tight and that they would try to get in contact with the "out of state" juror.

That was last week. I still have not heard back. I guess I don't have to go back to jury duty after all. Of course now that I have said this I am pretty sure I have jinxed myself.

What jury duty has taught me......so far

From the first letter I received, I knew that this jury duty stint would be different. Normally (for regular jury duty) you receive a letter with a date and a number you have to call. If you are lucky your group is excused and you don't even have to go down to the courthouse.

This all started with the "warning" letter I received back in December. It said I was selected as a prospective juror and that I would receive additional information if I was selected to report. Six months after I sent in the requested contact information, I received my summons. I was given a date and time to report at the courthouse. I even received a reminder call a couple of days before. Talk about different than the norm.

The last time I had jury duty I made it into the court room but I was only one of the prospective jurors sitting in the audience, I was never was called to sit in the jury box.

You know things are not going well when your name is one of the first called to enter the court room for jury duty selection. I was juror #17 and was immediately given a seat in the box. I knew there was no way that I would get out of that box. I tried, but I got nervous and I am sure I did not sound as convincing as I could.

Orientation started right after jury selection. Yes, I said orientation. I have been in orientation for the last 2 weeks. We were given a 2 week course on AZ law. If you ever have trouble sleeping, may I recommend reading the AZ statutes.

So what has jury duty taught me so far? It has taught me that lawyers don't like to share, well at least when it comes to restrooms. We have been meeting in a board room on the first floor. Every floor has a restroom except for the first floor. Closest restroom that us lowly jurors are allowed to use...16 floors up.

The view from the 16th floor