Justice In The Borough

Now playing: T Bone Burnett - Humans From Earth
via FoxyTunes I was going to do a whole expose on the justice system here in The Borough, having served my jury duty for the next decade this week. But after alot of whining about being stuck on jury duty, for a whole 8 hours, - I talked to a friend who is very serious minded about these things. In his mind - it is not only a civic duty to show up - but you should do everything possible to sit on a jury. After hearing him go on and on about how the educated citizens of our country need to take a bigger role in the dissemination of justice- I was almost sad that I didn't get picked - "I feel gypped".

Being called for jury duty is not what it used to be. In the old days once you reported in, you were stuck in the room until they decided it was time for a break, you can leave the building now, of course you have to go through security screening each time - which is not all that fun especially for the guys wearing belts who had to take them off each time. But you can leave!!!

The room where you wait to be called, is large, with fairly comfortable chairs (no more wooden seats!), many tv's showing CNN and there is even a free internet room (ok so your time is limited to 10 minutes and when that is over the browser window resets itself and most sites are restricted - including things like social networking sites) but to be able to check email while you are waiting is a glorious modern convenience.

I still found the whole system, even with its modern conveniences, to have many faults - including making us rush to form a line - then calling our names in alphabetical order - and the whole idea that there was ONE case on the docket for the afternoon - seems like the court is under scheduled. And the number of people that got up when the the exclusions were called because they had children at home (hello its called a babysitter). I hate it when breeders get preferential treatment.

Now that's its over I realize that it was not a huge imposition of my time or even that much of an inconvenience. I suppose if I had a job and my boss was annoyed that I was going to be out of the office - I might have been a bit stressed out. As it as, it was more about keeping my brain occupied for the endless hours of waiting and finding something I could afford for lunch.