A couple of weeks ago I received a summons to Jury Duty.
I was excited to receive the summons. Never before had I been called to Jury Duty! For a long time I was not a registered voter. Being a Jehovah's Witness precludes involvement in politics – even your civil duties - because Christians are to be IN the world, not OF the world. It made sense to me then; but, have they read the Old Testament? One sure way to end up on the business end of God’s wrath was to be King and lead your nation away from God’s law. It occurred to me that, in a Democracy, it's We The People who bear that accountability so it behooves me to vote. I'm no longer a Jehovah's Witness, but that's another story....
A couple of weeks ago I received a summons to Jury Duty.
I was excited to receive the summons. Never before had I been called to Jury Duty! For a long time I was not a registered voter. Being a Jehovah's Witness precludes involvement in politics – even your civil duties - because Christians are to be IN the world, not OF the world. It made sense to me then; but, have they read the Old Testament? One sure way to end up on the business end of God’s wrath was to be King and lead your nation away from God’s law. It occurred to me that, in a Democracy, it's We The People who bear that accountability so it behooves me to vote. I'm no longer a Jehovah's Witness, but that's another story....
“Chuck, I’ve been summoned to Jury Duty!”
“Oh, you can mail the postcard or go online and get excused because of your family obligations.” He said.
“But I want to go for Jury Duty!” I was finally going to have the chance to determine the fate of one of my peers.
I had arranged child care for the one day (Monday), but on Saturday it suddenly occurred to me that this jury duty thing could become more than just a morning at the Williamson County Courthouse. It could evolve into days - even weeks away from family; perhaps the case would even require a sequestered jury. Days or Weeks or Sequestering, Oh My! What would I do about childcare then?
It was too late to mail my postcard claim of exemption, so I figured I'd just load up the boys on Monday morning, drive to the courthouse, and tell them things have changed and I need to be excused this time.
"Things have changed?” exclaimed Chuck. "What are you going to tell them, that you woke up on Monday morning and realized you have kids?"
"No, no, silly. I mean childcare. I’ll tell them I don't have childcare if this thing becomes more than just a day in court." I explain.
"Cindy, can't you just leave the kids with the sitter while you go to the courthouse?"
"Well, why? It reinforces my case if they're with me, right?"
"But Cindy, this is a SUMMONS to appear in COURT. What if they hold you in CONTEMPT of court? They might put you in jail! You might be fined! What if they put you in jail and put the kids in CPS custody? Then what? How do you know you can take kids into the courthouse? I’ve been there, there’s a room labeled JURY and a room for everyone else. You can’t take the kids in there!”
Chuck, the obeisant. This is a man who insists that both our boys remain in booster seats until they weigh precisely 80 lbs, because that is the published safety recommendation. This is the man who, because the sign reads “socks required” on the McDonald’s play-land, then, by golly, too bad if you're bare-foot in sandals in this sweltering Texas heat! This is the man who was shaking like a leaf and sweating bullets when we were pulled over on I-35 by some Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden playing cop. Chuck follows the rules. He never crosses the double white lines. He never runs with sticks.
“WHAT?” I shriek, “I’m a private citizen of the United States of America and there’s no way they’re going to tell me…blah, blah, blah…I’ve got rights!”
“That’s exactly the kind of attitude that…blah, blah, blah….”
And on we went until I was so nervous about the future I began to feel sick.
Seeing my green face, Chuck says, “Oh, sorry. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Bye, gotta go to work. I’ll have my phone if you need me. Let me know if I have to come get the kids or bail you out or something.” Quick peck on cheek, “Are you going to blog this?”
“I’m already writing it.” I seethe.
“Love you!”
“Love you too!”
So, I get to the courthouse with my defense already planned. I’ll play dumb. “What, I thought there was free childcare for Jurors?” Or, “My husband had an emergency meeting and can’t take the kids.”
We went through security, the boys very excited the whole time and asking a bunch of questions; Are we going to see some bad guys? Can we peek in the jail? Is this your work? Are you going to tell them you can’t work because you have kids?
I walked up to the man collecting the summons notices and explained, “I have to be excused due to family obligations.”
“Oh, no problem. You know, in the future you can just mail it back to us.” He offers.
“Yes, thank you.”
And we left. The whole thing took 5 minutes. The boys wanted to stop in for breakfast at McDonald's on the way home.
"Okay, but, You're not wearing socks."