First time experiences cannot be replicated. Because they are the first. And first is a one-time deal. Many have traveled the globe, met notables, or tested their nerve – bungee jumping some canyon, parachuting, or a 150mph+ drive (the latter for me). Relax, it was on a NASCAR track, although the left rear tire did blow out… story for another day. My first on this day… is jury duty.
First Time
In all my years and multiple home states, counties, and cities – this is my first time summoned to courthouse jury duty. Standard jokes about avoidance of this civic duty aside, I arrived with curiosity. The inside of a courtroom I’ve seen many a time – judge & jury, accused & aggrieved, the process of justice witnessed by a long-time news reporter and manager. To see it from the jury box… that would be a first.
No Way They Call Me
As I write though, a fair assumption is a media man won’t be selected to a jury pool, or more so, to serve with eleven others on a jury. After all, who wants a juror who’s been in the back of police cars, jails, and prisons? They ask about that kind of thing. We’ll see. But the process and people in this confinement are interesting, nonetheless. How’s everything from Top Gun to snoring as a tease?
Leading The Nation In Jury Comfort
In Uptown Charlotte, the Mecklenburg County Courthouse Jury Assembly Room is far from a row of hard wood benches in a big boring room. They call it the Jury Suite… featuring a variety of cushioned theater seats (with cupholders and movable desktops), kitchenette, vending, business center, cell phone room and outdoor balcony with a view. Tom Cruise is on multiple big screens. There’s a popcorn machine and a couple of recliners (one juror got too comfy, snoring over the big screen jet engines). Our hosts say it is one of seven or eight such suites in the country… designed to make potential jurors comfortable… before the discomfort of judging right and wrong, guilty or not.
Down To Business
Anti-bias videos played on all screens at one point. Several dozen citizens there filled out two-ply carbon forms – one copy for the prosecution, one for the defense – if called to be part of a courtroom jury pool. That would be justice in progress, but again, they’re not picking me.
What is clear, we’re all here for one day or one trial as the law dictates in North Carolina. If our name is to be called, the sound system mutes all speakers and is heard outside on the scenic balcony, inside the quiet room, and everywhere around the suite. Everyone listens for that announcement. Once called, no one in a courtroom pool leaves until the judge says so. Name called and off to court… or clock strikes 5PM and jury duty is complete.
Almost… Is Not 5PM
I stepped outside for fresh air on the city skyline platform, did some reading in the quiet room, and kicked off my shoes in a private business cubicle… sipped some canned carbonated water from a high-tech vending machine too. All was well.
“The following jurors should report to…”
Uh oh. Relaxation time in the suite was over… something about a felony trial in Superior Court.
My week was about to change. Standby for details next time.
