UNITED STATES—I’m sorry, but I’m going to say it: I hate jury duty. This is not so much about having to perform a civic duty because I do not mind it. My frustration comes with the fact that I am CONSTANTLY, and I mean constantly called for jury duty in a given year. I mean I get called by the local government, the state government and the federal government. I’m just livid over the fact that it seems no matter how many times I serve jury duty; the system is just going to continue to pull my name whenever possible.
I recall the first time I was called was in 2005, where I sat in a room for nearly 6 hours, and then I was sent home. I was happy; I really did not want to serve on a jury considering I was in the thick of undergraduate school and working full-time. Right after serving, I was called by the local city government to serve jury duty. Because I just served, I was granted a release.
Fast-forward to 2009 and I am called to federal court to serve jury duty. This time, I am selected to serve on a jury which was a total of 4 days. It was an experience to say the least, but my biggest concern was the fact that people did not consider how important this was. I kept thinking to myself: this is a person’s life at stake. Why are so many of you okay with just allowing others to determine the outcome. That is the biggest problem I have with people serving on a jury. People don’t take it seriously, and if they don’t care if someone could be jailed or a verdict that should not have gone through is approved because of someone’s bias or lack of accountability.
Don’t even tell me that crap that I hear time and time when you go sit in that large room, patiently waiting for a number of names to be called that we like to have a diverse group of people. If that was the case you wouldn’t always call the same people time after time after time. In addition, you might want to take a look at some people who have NEVER been called to serve jury duty and are able to do so. In addition, it would not be a bad idea to call some people who are not working, just sitting at home or roaming the streets doing absolutely nothing.
I’m not joking; in the past 12 years I have probably been called for jury duty at least 20 times, and I’m sick of serving on juries. I’ve performed my civic duty; find someone else to do the deed. It’s frustrating as hell because not only do I have to readjust my work schedule, but I have to adjust my schedule for school as well. Does the government care? Does not look like it. I am seriously dying to know how people are selected for jury duty. I’m almost certain it has to do with registering to vote. Once you’re registered you’re in the system and they ‘randomly’ pull of names as they call it. No, that is not the case, it’s those who show up, who continue to be pulled time and time again.
I’m praying that when I serve jury duty this week, this is the last time, I mean the last time for at least a year or two before I get summoned again for jury duty. To be honest if I never got selected again, I would be totally fine with that. Why? They argue once you serve once, that’s it; it’s not likely you’ll be called again to serve jury duty. Whoever said that lied? I’ve served more times than I can count and frankly I’m over it. It’s my civic duty, but dammit I’ve served it and some, while others have yet to be called even once. Tell me, what’s fair about that?
