Yesterday I answered my summons for Federal Grand Jury service in Worcester. The drive took me about half an hour, but since I have a poor sense of direction and hate cities, it took me another half hour to find a parking spot and walk to the courthouse building. I asked for directions about 6 times along the way.
Finally, I arrive a few minutes late and they take my flashlight, knife, lighter, and cell phone, and I run up the stairs. I asked a security guard where the fifth floor was. He said, “We don’t have a fifth floor here.” Apparently I had found the WRONG COURTHOUSE. So I collected my stuff and walked out, and there was a woman who had done the same thing (thank goodness). She also happened to be better at directions than me, so we walked another half a mile or so to the real Federal court building.
When we got there they again collected my stuff and checked in. I was directed to a huge courtroom where about 60-70 random people were. After waiting another half hour and watching a horrible movie over 20 years old was about what a Grand Jury does, the judge came in and his clerk started picking jurors. The chances of getting picked were slim – 33 people out of 70. But I was about the 10th picked. None of the people seated around me were – and they were all happy about it.
Truthfully, I wasn’t disappointed to get picked. Plenty of other people spoke to the judge personally to try to get off due to “hardship”. Some of them he let go, others he denied. I don’t have much of an excuse not to serve. They also pay $40 a day and 48.5 cents a mile for travel. It’s not much but something.
Grand Jurors serve for EIGHTEEN MONTHS – minimum. That term can be extended if we’re hearing a complex case. We serve once a week for this whole term. There are 23 of us with 10 alternates. We hear cases before they are brought to trial, and issue indictments based on “probable cause”. In other words, we decide if the case should be thrown out or not. We decide on crimes involving Federal law such as those involving guns or drugs. We are simultaneously a sword and shield – protecting the innocent from accusations without enough evidence to convict, and punishing the guilty by bringing them to justice. Our deliberations are kept secret.
After all the jurors were picked, the rest of the crowd was released and we were talked to for a while about our duties. Eventually we were released. Then came the wandering around the city, looking for the parking garage where my car was parked. It took me about 20 minutes just to find it (remember, I was at a different courthouse and disoriented) and another 20 minutes of walking around the garage looking for my car. In my defense, the garage was HUGE. Not just multiple floors, but multiple sections with floors. Finally, I pulled up to the exit gate to pay, and realized I had no cash. THEY DIDN’T TAKE ANYTHING BUT CASH. So I had to park, walk 10 minutes up the street to an ATM, call Jill at work for the PIN number to get money, walk back, and by this time I’m feeling strong animosity toward cities and everything in them.
After I got out of the black-hole-parking-garage, I drove in circles looking for the highway. I was finally home around two. Whew.
I am socially anxious, which is why I like being alone much of the time – and why I hate cities and crowds. I’m an introvert. That said, God has granted me the ability to act sociable in public. For instance, in the jury room with 70 people, I was able to start conversations with 5-6 different people during the course of the day. Most people just sit and look straight ahead in this situation. I’m grateful to be able to put my anxiety aside in these situations. However, I was quite glad to be home away from people and the city.
Leave a Reply