My civil duties

Today was the first time in my life that I have ever been called to Jury duty. Everyone else seems to dread it but I was looking forward to it. Jeff talks about court all the time and I wanted to at least experience it one time for myself.

I go, get squeezed into a room not near enough to fit all of us, and sit for over an hour. One group of names called, not mine, and they get dismissed. Another hour goes by and we get escorted to another building like a group of cattle and we listen for our juror number. I'm excited because I have never been in a courtroom, let alone see the judge and defendant (who by the way is in jail clothes, handcuffs, and shakled). As time goes by, I realize that I needed to be careful what I wished for. The defendant kept being escorted out of the courtroom for having outbursts about his need for another attorney and four doctors declaring him competent. OH BOY!!!! I listen for my number and right before lunch I am called. I AM SITTING IN THE JURY BOX...pretty exciting for me but now I'M SCARED.

The trial is for a sexual offender who refused to register for the last 2 years and was being accused of molesting a child. HELLO....COUNT ME OUT!!! I made it this far and I can't go any further. My sole purpose in life is to protect my children and being the owner and operator of a preschool/daycare, I protect other people's children as well. SORRY...can't be partial on this one.

There is always hope for another trial next year. Glad I witnessed it though.