Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Nooo... Not Jury Duty!


That was my reaction to the call for

After all,
I'm busy teaching,
my father's been with us and will return in a few days
{He's home for some check-ups and is coming back for Christmastime}
...oh yea...
and... It's CHRISTMAS!
I was at work until 6:40 on Friday preparing for my substitute.
{and making my room pretty for Christmas}
I didn't want to go downtown for jury duty;
what was it going to be like anyway!

This morning, the roads were greasy...traffic on the interstates was rush hour thick.
To find parking, I had to use the ginormous parking garage of a major hotel.
Security confiscated my camera until I left the building.
{I see this rule as very archaic since all of us still had our cellphones}.

There were 125 of us in one of the courtrooms.  We filled out all the paperwork
...and waited...
for our numbers to be selected for a jury.
...we waited some more...
{Was this a good sign?}
It was!
A jury was not needed since the people settled out of court.
We were all dismissed.
I had the afternoon off.
Another Christmas surprise.
Sometimes God's gifts come in unexpected packaging!
Heaven knew I needed a break.
~
Our group was dismissed.
But there was another jury there today, in a different part of the building,
determining someone's fate.
The news teams were all there.
~
Such a different day for me.
It was a real learning experience.
There's quite a process to justice.
 And,  it's so much better to be on "this side" of the law.

~

Jury duty in America is not optional.
If you are called, you must go.
What does your state or country demand of you?

Have you ever been called for jury duty?
~
I hope your week started out well.
It's very cold here ~ keeping warm under lots of wool!

Wishing you all
peace, joy and warm hearts

18 comments:

  1. It is the same in the UK where I was called for jury service once many years ago and like you found it a very interesting learning experience.

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  2. Good thing you got dismissed, it is such a busy time of year! I got called in for the Elisabeth Smart case in Salt Lake City but was dismissed...I personally knew the judge as I grew up! LOL ;D

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  3. Yes, it is definitely our civic duty but it is amazing how many people just don't show up--

    I have been called a few times--one time I served--another time, the ones who didn't get picked for the last twelve got to go in and watch proceedings--as luck would have it, I wouldn't have been able to serve anyway--of the three cases I witnessed, two involved students of mine and one involved a neighbor-and this was in a metropolitan area of 750,000--small world, isn't it?

    I'm so glad you got the afternoon off--hope you got a lot accomplished or had a lot of fun or both.

    I remember how long it took to prepare properly for subs--!!!!!!!

    Merry Christmas!
    Dianne

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  4. Hi Maria, I am back from my visit at Wikipedia, I had to investigate Jury Duty ^_~
    I believe we do not have anything like that. But it sure sounds interesting.
    I hope you are enjoying this last week before the holidays. Your classroom will most definitely be wonderful at Christmas.
    Have a joy-filled rest of the week, sweet sweet Maria xxxx Has the cake pan entered your cozy home already? xxxx

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  5. LindyLouMac got here before me .. yes you have to do it here in the uk .. I have never been called .. Would it be a learning experience .. I suppose it could be , but also I don't see why we have to do it .. I am not that experienced to make a decision about someone .. what if it was an horrdendous case ..

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  6. I'm glad you didn't have to do it. I've only been called once a couple of years ago. I didn't go for medical reasons, I couldn't. I know it would be interesting.

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  7. I usually get a Jury Summons to appear for Jury Duty (in the mail) every other year. I have had to wait many, many times at the court house, and each time I have been allowed to be dismissed for the year. In the past I would really dread this each time I got called. Now I just pray, Dear Lord, IF you want me to do this..there must be a reason why, but if I do happen to be selected please give me the strength to get through it! :) I am still relieved when they dismiss all of us to go home!
    My husband was called once and had to serve as the spokesperson for the jury pool. I think he enjoyed doing that and not having to be at work! ha! :)

    I am glad you got a break from the regular routine for your day.

    Sweet blessings to you,
    xoxo Gloria

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  8. I had jury duty a couple of months ago Maria. My reaction was exactly like yours, but then I got to thinking about the kind of jury I would want if I ever found myself in need of one (please, never!). I didn't get chosen, but it was an interesting day.

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  9. Because I live in a small county, it's not unusual to be called. I served on a criminal jury this summer. Once, I was called in Nov and again in Jan - when I questioned that, they said each calendar year starts your ability to be called again. Though it's a civic responsibility, I always hope I'm not going to get a jury summons when I have a trip planned or company coming! Glad you had part of the day to play, Maria. The school countdown to the holiday is on...little Ben tells me he can't concentrate because he's too excited about Christmas.

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  10. Now don't you feel proud of yourself. Thank you for doing your civic duty!!!!! And way to go... an afternoon off!
    Yvonne

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  11. Oh Maria that was wonderful for you...yes in Canada it is not an option either...I have never been called but my husband has.

    Happy Wed. to you my friend...soak up all the love that your students have for you. xoxox

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  12. We do not have jury duty in our part of the world (Sri Lanka). It will be far too hazardous!

    I have a giveaway up on my blog - a gift card sponsored by CSN Stores. Please come over and enter

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  13. hello my sweet friend!! i got your comment..and ooooo...my girlies will be SO BLESSED with stickers! ...they love stickers...that is so sweet of you to think of them. xo sending you a hug. and lots of warm love from my cold canadian home. it's - 27 Celcius today....brrrrrrrrrr... xoxoxo

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  14. Actually you can be dismissed if it will cause financial hardship. There are few exceptions. But I am glad that you managed to slip out of it Maria! Love Di ♥

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  15. I served on a jury many years ago...was excused about 9 years ago. It definitely is a little disruptive to one's schedule, but an educational and serious responsibility. (I was unclear...did you sit on the jury in the second case?)

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  16. I've never had to go yet, and I hope I don't. But if called, of course we all must go. So glad for you that you weren't needed.

    Oh, and I love your bears too! So cute.

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  17. Always WANTED to be called for jury duty, never have been. Maybe it's all those cranky letters to the editor?

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  18. Il semble que vous soyez un expert dans ce domaine, vos remarques sont tres interessantes, merci.

    - Daniel

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments add sunshine to my day~