Got called into Jury Duty yesterday. First I had to watch some gay video about how Jury Duty is my chance to get involved with the government and how it's important to be a good citizen and all that. Then they stuck me with about 90 other people for Jury selection in case involving a 16 year old kid who was accused of a "gang assault." Keep in mind that this doesn't mean the kid was a Crip or Blood or something, it's just the way the law is worded. He and 2 other kids beat the shit out of a guy with pipes. If it's 3 or more people, it's considered a "gang." Whatever.
The kid was sitting there, well-groomed, clean-shaven, in a nice suit, looking every bit the nice white boy. Which is what everyone wants to be when taken to court for something- no one's ever whiter than when they're named a defendant in a criminal case.
The Jury selection process is interesting. The Prosecuting and Defense lawyers try their best to come across like game show hosts. They're charming, likable, and they try to get to know you. But since some of the Prosecutor's witnesses were detectives and I have several family members in law enforcement, the defence lawyer got me booted. Seems he thought I'd take the detective's testimony more seriously than the rest and thus, show bias. Just as well, the case looked like it was going to go over a week and it probably would have become tedious after a day to two.
So, I went home and am exempt from this bullshit for 6 years. My job's paying me in full for the day.
Anyone else ever serve or get called?
