Almost Served For A Grand Jury

Work was been so hectic lately that I cannot even get up on time in the morning. well, what could you expect of having a three to four hours sleep? Of course the body is always vulnerable. But it's very unpredictable sometimes. Depends how tired I am or how recharged I am maybe.

I also noticed that when I have a long off, like three days off, the first day of work was a bitch. It seems that I am always delayed in my work. That's I always wonder why. It seems that it's like that all the time. And it all comes out to how good I am rested and then the following day everything is just smooth sailing.

Lately, I was called for a jury duty and off course it was a hassle. I gave an early noticed at my job regarding the subpoena and the first day was gone to waste because I wasn't called. Come Tuesday I was instructed to report and I woke up early but I ended up sitting at the assembly room until lunch waiting for nothing.

After lunch, an hour later after we came back, they called like twenty people to assemble because there was a high profile case to attend to in another courthouse and most of the people volunteered. There were like 50 to 60 people questioned regarding their part and also the reasons why some had declined.

After that group I was also called with another group to report to Court 15 on the third floor. We waited for a while and then we were called inside. The judge introduced himself and introduce also the panel of defendant and the plaintiff. We were told that the case will last for five days and the judge politely asked the group who will decline and instructed them to form a line for questioning.

I was ambivalent at first but I forcibly stood up and lined in the queue. When it was my turn the judge asked me why I said no to the jury and I told him that I was still on probationary period in my new job and that the company doesn't pay for jury duty. The judge then asked the opinion of the plaintiff's and defendant's attorneys and they all accepted my reasoning.

After that the judge told me that I am excused from the jury and he instructed me to go back to the assembly room an wait for more instructions.

I went back downstairs and spoke to the attendant then she instructed me to wait. I waited there until 1630H and then the staff started to issue the green paper and discharged us for the day.

Whew, I was almost selected for a five day jury duty but I got a sly escape but at least the judge was very complacent and lenient to grant me the excuse. Thank God!