Classic Rant #648 (January 2, 2012): I, the Jury

Happy New Year.

In my last post, I said that I wouldn't be back until tomorrow, but the situation changed late in the day on Friday.

I had received a summons to appear as a phone juror for jury duty in one of the courts in my state. I cannot say which one.

Anyway, I called the court, as instructed, after 5 p.m. on Friday, and lo and behold, I have to appear for jury duty on Tuesday.

So my week is now a mess.

I am off from work today, which in New York State is a legal holiday, but I must start the new year tomorrow as a potential juror.

As you know, this can last a few hours, a day, a year, who knows.

In the past, I was able to get out of jury duty. Yes, I had to appear, but all I had to say was the phrase "child support," and they would excuse me quicker than you can say your name.

They never wanted to get involved in that mess, so they would let me off. It was the only time that I paid child support--nearly 20 years--that I actually benefited from having it.

Now, I don't have it anymore, and I have told my place of business that there is no way I can get out of jury duty this time around.

Hopefully, they won't put me on a jury, but if they do, I am pretty much stuck.

Look, I know it is my civic responsibility to appear as a potential juror and to serve on a jury if called. But it is a great sacrifice to those on the jury to serve.

There are work responsibilities, family responsibilities, and I will admit it, I am not looking forward to the transportation costs.

But serve I must.

So I don't know the extent of my jurorship at this time, which means I don't know if I am going to be posting much this week, if at all.

We will see, but for right now, Roger Wilco and out.

"I'm off to be a juror ... ."