While I’ve had summons for jury duty in the past, until last week I had never actually made it to the courthouse for this purpose. Leading up to this, everyone I mentioned it to tried to give me their advice for how to get out of it. I didn’t want to. I want to do MORE civic engagement, not less.
Sitting in that crowded room with 300-400 (I’m guessing) other potential jurors on a typical gray Portland morning, I was rather moved by the judge’s description of how important it was for all of us to be there, regardless of whether we ended up being picked for a jury or not.
It wasn’t too long before my name was called. Once we were all settled in the courtroom, the judge explained the process and started reading the charges.
Charge 1. This person has been accused of this crime with these specific details against a person matching this description.
Oh boy.
Charge 2. This person has been accused of this crime with these specific details against a person matching this description.
OH BOY.
Charge 3… Charge 4…
OH NO.
And on and on it went. By about charge 6, I had started to feel sweaty and claustrophobic. Sometime around charge 11 I lost track and was sure I’d missed a few. About charge 13 I noticed more than one prospective juror was audibly fighting tears. And finally…
If anyone finds these charges particularly disturbing, please raise your hand.
Who WOULDN’T find these charges particularly disturbing? I didn’t raise my hand. In hindsight, I probably should have as I honestly don’t think I really heard at least half of the charges.
I wasn’t chosen for that trial and was dismissed for the day.
Day 2 I was eventually called into a second courtroom. After explaining the process and thanking us for being there, the judge explained the charges.
This person has 7 charges against them. 3 charges along these lines and 3 charges along these other lines and one charge which I’ll read directly.
The charges were still rather awful, but the quick summary reduced the emotional impact significantly. I wasn’t selected for this trial either.
Lots of things to ponder. How many prospective jurors does the Multnomah County Courthouse see in a typical week/year? How many trials? What factors into a decision to spell out all of the charges in great detail instead of the quick summary? How does that decision impact the trial, the selected jurors or the outcome of the case? Were others thinking the phrase “particularly disturbing” is too subjective? Do judges keep a list of all the silly things people say when they are trying to avoid serving on a jury? Did that woman really mean she couldn’t be unbiased against anyone of that racial background when she said couldn’t be unbiased against someone of that racial background accused of that crime? How does that lawyer being THAT attractive impact their trials? How did the person that mentioned their 50 years past charge for possession of marijuana imagine that might impact them?
While I’m grateful that I don’t have all the details of those trials rattling around in my head, I still wish I had gotten to see the whole process. I like to know how things come together.
I’ll share some photos from the courthouse in a different post. It’s a beautiful building in a stunning location.
