So I was summoned for jury duty.

photo credit: ChrisMoncusPhoto.com

Feels kinda shitty, but, really, its just a boring vacation from a boring job I do anyway. So I went. So far– and we haven’t even gotten into a case or anything– I’ve found it intriguing. Right now we’re just going through jury selection, or what all the legal people call voir dire, meaning, in latin, "to see and speak the truth." And this is what piqued my interest.

90% (and i’m making that stat up) of the people summoned for jury duty do not want to do it. They find no pleasure in being part of the legal system, the most important part. Admittedly, I really don’t want to do it either but my attitude about it is one of apathy and ambivalence. I just think, lets just get it over with. Other prospective jurors, however, are actively trying to get out. I can read it in their voices, in the timing of their responses, in the extra information that the lawyers, nor the judge even asked for at that time. All I can think is, bull… shit.

I’m sure some people can’t be on a jury, their state of mind doesn’t allow them the common sense to make decisions. but the people I saw in my group were ridiculous. One laid it on thick with the racism, and though i’m sure somewhere back in his mind he is biased toward the color of his skin, he definitely knew when it was showtime. Dude, the question was about if you knew cops, not that you hate people other than your ethnicity.

And if you’re aiming to be a cop, then you should be energetic about being a juror, not say that just because you know cops and went on ride-a-longs that now you can’t be impartial. That everybody who goes against cops is guilty. I have family in law enforcement and they taught me to always be fair and impartial in matters of decisions. So to hear someone says they want to be a cop, however can be impartial scares me, and that I wouldn’t want him/her to be a cop.

Don’t be a dick, be a juror if called upon.

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