This time I was supposed to appear at 1:30 at the courthouse. I learned later that the three cases on the schedule were only expected to take one afternoon to decide. In the end, two of the cases settled before trial, leaving one case for the jury.
About 30 potential jurors turned up. Not such a good response when 90 were summoned. The guard told us about one judge who got angry that no one ever showed up, and he sent out all the policeman he had to round them up.
I was disappointed that I didn't get chosen again. My juror number was too far down to be considered. But I was able to hear enough to get the gist of the case. The defendant had chosen to represent himself. He wanted to prove that he was well within his rights to drive to HEB (the local grocery store) for food when he knew his driver's license had been suspended. Makes me wonder how he got caught.
They released all the extra people and I took my $6 and came on home. Maybe one of these days I'll get chosen.
Little did I know at the time that the man I was standing behind in the third photo was the defendant.
Remind yourself of the first time I got summoned, and the second time.
I want to be on a jury, too, but ever since I moved out here nine years ago I hadn't ever received a summons until I saw a complaint on FB about how many people don't show up when summoned. I posted about never getting one. Shortly after that, I got one! I'm guessing that someone read that and finally put me on the roll. Sadly, the case was settled and the potential jurors were dismissed the weekend before the trial was scheduled, so I didn't even have to go to the courthouse.
ReplyDeleteI figure if I keep showing up, odds are I'll eventually get chosen. Both Katie and Monte got chosen on their first time. Abby's just been summoned so will probably get chosen too!
DeleteWell. the only time I was called I had already moved from the area. It was about 35 years ago. They still sent me a check for $7 and Mark shamed me into sending it back since I never served.
ReplyDeleteWell they ask you to donate your money to local causes. But I've always taken mine. My time is worth something. Maybe more than $6 though.
DeleteSo, does this mean that the pay has gone down a dollar?
ReplyDeleteWell since I've been called, it's always been $6. First time they joked and said it's not even enough for lunch at Whataburger.
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