Wait, did I came here to wait?. Don't they know I hate waiting!. There are over a 100 people in a very large room, people sitting, reading newspapers and doing nothing. This is Jury duty.
I don't recall the last time I went down town in the morning, fearing traffic, I left at 7 and it wasn't bad. Found cheap parking and headed to justice center. Passed the metal detector, checked in , received my lanyard and now I wait..
A bit later , the Wednesday jurors were called to the blue chairs for a movie. Not 12 angry men or the client, but a quite nice orientation movie, took about 20-30 minutes explains the whole process, very details which is good. Then the Judge came and explained things. They seem to focus on wait, the fact that we have a lot of it , but it is needed since the lawyers know we are here ready to go and get eager to convict the longer we wait (last part was not the judges thoughts) – so our presence is intimidation to all sharks and solicitors to close a deal. The bailiff speaks next, she is humorous. We sign in and back to waiting. 20 min later, they called the first victims to go to trial selection , I wait, oh sorry Intimidate quietly.
10 minutes later – more lucky people get selected… still waiting, while fox new is on tv.
And then 10:45 my name is called. I am chosen, so proud. I go to the area of the chosen people, our names are verified again and we head to the forbidden elevators. Those that as jurors we can't go un escorted. From the 17th floor we see winter Cleveland views and then we are escorted to the jury deliberation room, then when our names are called again we told to stand against the wall in a specific location and we are led in to the court room with "all rise for the jury". There are more suits here than my own wedding. No medial, only one or two people in the audience. The judge introduces himself, the court personal. The lawyers introduce themselves then for the next hour , the judge talks about some case background, about jury selection , asks us each some background questions. When I hear the case topic I am a bit intrigued. But I cant share anything about the case it self, that will wait for the trial to end. Alla is disappointed that I cant share, I am as well. As you know I announced news from the delivery room in the past, I don't really like to hold. But to enjoy this procedure I must.
The whole ride up to the court and the formality is a bit intimidating, you cant talk with anyone on the case makes conversation awkward.
we were sent to lunch, next is the jury filtering……
after a cafeteria lunch, we waited to be summoned back up, our call time has passed and "expert" jurors from the Monday group suggested they are settling. But, a few minutes later were are summoned. Do the roll call again and go up the forbidden elevations and escorted to a standing court room.
Then the probing begins. They try to uncover any biases. A spoiler… I can talk about the trial now…
From the lawyers suggestions, here is what may have happened. Some construction guy was injured on the job, he started taking pain killers and for years he was an addict. He came to dr X a.k.a the defendant saw him one time and gave him methadone , the dude went to a pharmacy and had this drug filled. 3 days later he was dead. Now, the family is suing the doctor and the pharmacy. I don't have facts, but the lawyers suggested the doctor mishandled some procedure and so did the pharmacy
Hence the lawyers probed on issues on addiction, in us or our families, issues of pain management, hatred to big chains and it became personal quickly, but the jurors answers honestly for two and half hours for the 3 questioners (one for the plaintiff and one for each of the defendants ). I was asked On Alla's work, how much does she share about here work, how much I am respondent to sympathy, since the dude kids will come to testify and I as a parent may feel I need to "give them something". I said no- it didn't matter. Since I worked with pharmacies in my previous job and I know what goes on there from Alla, I was very curious about this case/ I was asked specifically if I will be able to not share with Alla, I said yes but I am dying to tell, the court laughed. . Finally, we reached the end of day and began Juror elimination, I was not asked as many questions compared with some and during the interview I would make mental note on who I think will be eliminated, but I neglected to assess one issue. They begin with "we excuse Mr gil, juror number 6".. what .fudge… first to go…. The judge opens the door and lets me out and I leave the building.
I am back there not, back in the jury pool for other trials selection…. Back to……waiting L
