Jury Duty
Last Tuesday and Wednesday I was called for Jury Duty by the Alameda Court. I was excited and dreaded it at the same time. Excited because it was the first time that I have ever set foot in the court house and might have a chance to serve as a Juror (I only know the court room scene through movies or by watching the news). Dreaded because I had to be away from North branch's hectic pace and would come back to find books and other things piled up to the ceiling. Oh well! What choice do I have?
For several years now I have gotten this "Call to Duty" letter every year, but have never been asked to serve, but this year I was told to report to the Oakland Court House in downtown Oakland at 8 o'clock in the morning. I got there about 15 minutes before 8 and, oh me, oh my! The long line stretched from the door of the court house to almost around the block. The day was gray, windy and about 50 degrees (F). I got in line and wondered if it was the right line - I didn't belong here with these people who seemed to be "in trouble " - petty crimes, parking violations or whatever "trouble" with the law that they were in. I asked a white lady in front of me: "Is this the line for Jury Duty?" She nodded and we compared our call to Jury Duty letter, she and I were in the same group, so I assumed that there was only one line for everybody. At last the door opened at 8am and we slowly made our way up toward the door.
When we were inside, we had to get pass the metal detector. Everybody had to take off his/her coat or jacket, watch, belt, purse, wallet and even shoes, put them in a tray and passed them through the machine. After that some of us proceeded to the jury assembly room on the third floor and the rest lined up for whatever windows that they needed to go to. The clerk apologized that we had to stand in the cold and a long line. She said that they could have opened another the door for the Jury duty people, and suggested that we email or call the judge to complain about that. We then had to fill out some paper, take a seat and wait for a roll call. The jury assembly room looked like a doctor or a dentist's office with low backed chairs designed for a short waiting time with magazines and newspapers on the stands.
After an hour of waiting around, they called us to the judge's room (I didn't really learn her name). The court room looked just like any court room in a movie set or in the news. We took our seats and the clerk took another roll call. The judge, the attorneys were all in their 30s and the defendant came in a few minutes later. The judge told us that Jury Duty is much more important than voting and reminded us that we are lucky to live in a democratic society and that we should be grateful to have a chance to exercise our civic duty. (But voting is voluntary and jury duty is imposed). She also told us to be fair, do not prejudge and listen to others' ideas and persuasion.
After that the clerk swore us in and the selection process began. It was a criminal case (I am not sure why, because the defendant did not run over anybody.) It involved a young woman in her late twenties who was caught by Berkeley police for drinking under influence of alcohol in 2006 between Sacramento and Blake streets. She pleaded not guilty so the case had its day in court and that was why we were here. What a waste of everyone's time and money.
From 8am to 4:30pm that day, about 60 or 70 people spent our time in that court room listening to others' personal stories. Before they began, the judge asked if any of us cannot serve due to personal hardships, we then had to fill out a form so she can review them. The judge, the prosecutor and the defendant's attorney excused some people, found some replacements and continued for more questions and answers all through the day. The signs in the room said that "No sleeping, no chewing gum, no reading, and no talking." Only the judge's chair had a high back and the rest of the chairs in the room had low backs so nobody can rest his or her head. Some, me included had to slide our bodies way down just so we can rest our heads. I sometimes closed my eyes for a few seconds, and did not want the bailiff to catch or accuse me of sleeping. The judge let us take 2 hour lunch break on the first day, we came back later and waited our turn to answer 23 questions about our personal background and issues.
Since the case involved police as witnesses, the questions stressed mostly of how we feel about police, have we had any experience with or committed any crimes and how we feel about the judicial system and so on. Most people had their cars or houses broken into, a few involved drinking and driving and some experienced petty crimes like purse snatching or crimes that were committed by relatives and friends. Since it was a DUI case, we were also asked if we drink alcohol or not. If we don't, why not? and how we feel about people who do? A man and a woman -- both African American -- told the judge that they do not trust the police, the judge, the attorneys or even the judicial system and were excused by the judge and both attorneys right away.
I said to myself: "Way to go! " If you can't find any good excuse then just say that and they will let you go. Some people couldn't answer some personal questions so they went to the judge's chamber with the attorneys to explain them. It was a very boring and long process, and I know that everyone was tired of it. Luckily for me, I met this lady from Hong Kong and I used whatever breaks that we had to teach her algebra.
I felt my time was well spent and worthwhile and I believed that she learned, and understood how to solve some math problems after I explained the rules to her. Her math teacher corrected her exercises, but did not explain further why or how so she was very confused and was full of questions. We later exchanged phone numbers and I told her that I can be her math tutor if she needed further help.
The next day we started at 10am, so the line was much shorter. We went through the same routine and had an hour lunch break. The woman that I taught math to treated me lunch in Oakland Chinatown, and said that she was very grateful that I helped her with the problems. We then came back to the court room for more questions and answers. They finally finished the process and picked the 12 jurors and two alternates at 4:30pm and the rest of us were excused to go home by the judge. We were all relieved and happy, and some people and I clapped our hands. On our way out, when we got into the elevator, a woman said: "OK, now we can go out and have a drink." We all broke out laughing. I said to myself: "I'll be your designated driver", but with one problem... I don't drive."
I still wonder how it is to serve as a juror? It seems interesting and exciting to sit through, listen to the witnesses and arguments on both sides and then decide if the defendant is guilty or not. But I really don't have the heart to sit through another long, boring and tedious juror selection process.
For several years now I have gotten this "Call to Duty" letter every year, but have never been asked to serve, but this year I was told to report to the Oakland Court House in downtown Oakland at 8 o'clock in the morning. I got there about 15 minutes before 8 and, oh me, oh my! The long line stretched from the door of the court house to almost around the block. The day was gray, windy and about 50 degrees (F). I got in line and wondered if it was the right line - I didn't belong here with these people who seemed to be "in trouble " - petty crimes, parking violations or whatever "trouble" with the law that they were in. I asked a white lady in front of me: "Is this the line for Jury Duty?" She nodded and we compared our call to Jury Duty letter, she and I were in the same group, so I assumed that there was only one line for everybody. At last the door opened at 8am and we slowly made our way up toward the door.
When we were inside, we had to get pass the metal detector. Everybody had to take off his/her coat or jacket, watch, belt, purse, wallet and even shoes, put them in a tray and passed them through the machine. After that some of us proceeded to the jury assembly room on the third floor and the rest lined up for whatever windows that they needed to go to. The clerk apologized that we had to stand in the cold and a long line. She said that they could have opened another the door for the Jury duty people, and suggested that we email or call the judge to complain about that. We then had to fill out some paper, take a seat and wait for a roll call. The jury assembly room looked like a doctor or a dentist's office with low backed chairs designed for a short waiting time with magazines and newspapers on the stands.
After an hour of waiting around, they called us to the judge's room (I didn't really learn her name). The court room looked just like any court room in a movie set or in the news. We took our seats and the clerk took another roll call. The judge, the attorneys were all in their 30s and the defendant came in a few minutes later. The judge told us that Jury Duty is much more important than voting and reminded us that we are lucky to live in a democratic society and that we should be grateful to have a chance to exercise our civic duty. (But voting is voluntary and jury duty is imposed). She also told us to be fair, do not prejudge and listen to others' ideas and persuasion.
After that the clerk swore us in and the selection process began. It was a criminal case (I am not sure why, because the defendant did not run over anybody.) It involved a young woman in her late twenties who was caught by Berkeley police for drinking under influence of alcohol in 2006 between Sacramento and Blake streets. She pleaded not guilty so the case had its day in court and that was why we were here. What a waste of everyone's time and money.
From 8am to 4:30pm that day, about 60 or 70 people spent our time in that court room listening to others' personal stories. Before they began, the judge asked if any of us cannot serve due to personal hardships, we then had to fill out a form so she can review them. The judge, the prosecutor and the defendant's attorney excused some people, found some replacements and continued for more questions and answers all through the day. The signs in the room said that "No sleeping, no chewing gum, no reading, and no talking." Only the judge's chair had a high back and the rest of the chairs in the room had low backs so nobody can rest his or her head. Some, me included had to slide our bodies way down just so we can rest our heads. I sometimes closed my eyes for a few seconds, and did not want the bailiff to catch or accuse me of sleeping. The judge let us take 2 hour lunch break on the first day, we came back later and waited our turn to answer 23 questions about our personal background and issues.
Since the case involved police as witnesses, the questions stressed mostly of how we feel about police, have we had any experience with or committed any crimes and how we feel about the judicial system and so on. Most people had their cars or houses broken into, a few involved drinking and driving and some experienced petty crimes like purse snatching or crimes that were committed by relatives and friends. Since it was a DUI case, we were also asked if we drink alcohol or not. If we don't, why not? and how we feel about people who do? A man and a woman -- both African American -- told the judge that they do not trust the police, the judge, the attorneys or even the judicial system and were excused by the judge and both attorneys right away.
I said to myself: "Way to go! " If you can't find any good excuse then just say that and they will let you go. Some people couldn't answer some personal questions so they went to the judge's chamber with the attorneys to explain them. It was a very boring and long process, and I know that everyone was tired of it. Luckily for me, I met this lady from Hong Kong and I used whatever breaks that we had to teach her algebra.
I felt my time was well spent and worthwhile and I believed that she learned, and understood how to solve some math problems after I explained the rules to her. Her math teacher corrected her exercises, but did not explain further why or how so she was very confused and was full of questions. We later exchanged phone numbers and I told her that I can be her math tutor if she needed further help.
The next day we started at 10am, so the line was much shorter. We went through the same routine and had an hour lunch break. The woman that I taught math to treated me lunch in Oakland Chinatown, and said that she was very grateful that I helped her with the problems. We then came back to the court room for more questions and answers. They finally finished the process and picked the 12 jurors and two alternates at 4:30pm and the rest of us were excused to go home by the judge. We were all relieved and happy, and some people and I clapped our hands. On our way out, when we got into the elevator, a woman said: "OK, now we can go out and have a drink." We all broke out laughing. I said to myself: "I'll be your designated driver", but with one problem... I don't drive."
I still wonder how it is to serve as a juror? It seems interesting and exciting to sit through, listen to the witnesses and arguments on both sides and then decide if the defendant is guilty or not. But I really don't have the heart to sit through another long, boring and tedious juror selection process.
posted by Nga at 10:17 AM
2 Comments:
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 09
Today the Judicial Council of California sent me a check for $17.38 - $15/day for jury fees and $2.38 for jury mileage. The city of Berkeley also paid me 5 hours that I was off for jury duty. Not bad for 11 hours of just sitting around.
...But I would rather be more productive.
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