Gray Matters by Stuart Carlson and Jerry Resler for February 07, 2024

Gray, were you the cranky old coot?

I’m sorry but I hated having jury duty.

Jury duty sucks.

All that for $15 per day ( At least the parking is free ) !

Jury duty does not stink. I have proudly served twice. Based on all the evidence, and we were given vast amounts, I and my fellow jurists were able to reach a verdict. Each time I served, the defendant was found not guilty. The defendant in one of the trials was so relieved we could see the truth he cried when the verdict was read. My spouse had saved all the newspapers so I could read them after the trial was over and I was stunned by the misinformation by the reporters that was printed. If called upon I would gladly serve again.I will add that when I first was called upon I worried “What if I’m the only one in my belief of the guilty or innocent verdict?” but as I said we are given all the facts and between us, we able to debate and reach our conclusions.

On my only jury duty, I was the oldest and wore nice clothes (slacks, dress shirt and dress shoes) to show respect for the court and the process. All it got me was elected jury foreman.

Ah, yes, the foreman.

3 guesses who the cranky one was

The only people on jury duty, are the people who couldn’t figure a way out of jury duty.

We also had 2 alternates when I had jury duty.

I’ve had jury duty once. I was bored to tears. Never saw a single trial. All we did was sit around in a waiting area and I read several books. I would be brought in, asked a few random seeming questions and dismissed. I was too white, to female(?!?) too old, too liberal, too conservative, too well educated, not well educated enough and so on. Weirdest two weeks of my life. Oh well, I did my duty. I DO believe in the justice system. But I am not so sure about some of the lawyers….

There should also be 2 incensed alternates, because they have to sit through the entire trial, but, don’t get to participate in the deliberations.