As an Arizona Court employee for over 35 years, and as a former Jury Services Specialist, I applaud you for this essay and your attitude towards serving. I wish that could be everyone's experience and attitude. However, jury service does not equally impact everyone. It can be a time imposition, financial constraint, job complication, day-care complication, elder-care complication, physically hard on the elderly or the unhealthy, you name it. And although I've heard some doozies, most of the excuses people have for not wanting to be a juror are valid and understandable. And most of the time, jurors are not paid adequately enough to reflect the true value of their time and service. I believe the judge and administrator's comments were meant to empathize with the reality of the hardships prospective jurors face. I don't believe they meant to disrespect the institution of jury service itself. My judges always gave a speech sincerely thanking jurors for their service even when they were not going to hear a case. Just showing up is an important civic duty and helpful. Often, the physical presence of prospective jurors is enough for attorneys and defendants to see that the system at least has the potential to work as designed. That said, it would be a wonderful world if everyone understood how important jury duty is, and if the justice system was always as fair and impartial as it could be.
Thank you Cherie, and I totally agree. I wish I had the space to have written further on my thoughts about the importance AND inadequately compensated act of this civic duty. The undervalued nature of it includes how employers respond to serve their employees who were so called. But that also opens up a Pandora’s Box of Wonders—introducing a pay structure that adequately compensates jurors is rife for inequity, unfairness, and even manipulation. Maybe it is absolutely the best that there be no monetary compensation—but that isn’t perhaps the best form of compensation anyway. Let’s start by insuring no harm is visited, in any way, upon the citizen who fulfills this civic duty with clear eyes, a full heart, and an impartial respect for the law. This involves society as a whole, and everyone in it, coming to a new social compact that in order to continue our path toward a more perfect union, some duties must be sacrosanct to the point where no one will ever hesitate to serve. Should life circumstance be insurmountable, as in the ways you describe and of course are a reality for many Americans, the agreements made with the courts then need also be one of honorable excusals. Compassion must be a requirement in this new social compact.
GEESHHH…my total bad as I meant to say a HUGE Thank YOU for your own devotion to a career that served our judicial system, not only well, but as I can only believe to be truly in an exemplary manner. I just plain ol’ forgot. Thirty five years serving the citizens of Arizona in what was no doubt at times challenging—I’ll bet you have stories upon stories you could tell!
LOL - oh, I have stories. I haven't written too many details yet, but I did write an overview of my 35 years in my post "Good Times". Here's a link if you want to check it out. https://justablink.substack.com/p/good-times
Okay, THAT was a WAY cool post detailing some of your 35 years of experience. Thanks for pointing me there—in a way, with the experiences you shared about co-workers, admin leaders/bosses, and the facilities themselves, you share as well how our society undervalues the entire judicial services. Imagine if “we” spent the money that is too easily spent on mega-sport arenas and actually applied that to our schools and court systems, including our educators and our civil servants.
Yeah, pipe dreams, I know.
And now I really need to know what happened to Bull the Piñata! But we’re never really gonna find out, are we.
Thanks for reading it! Pipe dreams is right. Sadly, I think Bull probably went on to the next world soaken wet and full of bullet holes and rat poop. Not a pretty picture! Btw, I just started "The Five Invitations" from the library and can already tell it's my kind of book. Thanks for the recommendation! Last night when I couldn't sleep, I found myself googling death doula training. In July, after my vacation to meet my grandbaby, I plan to call our local hospice and see about volunteering. You've got me started thinking about some things that I feel a need to pursue, at least for a bit to see how it feels. I am SO thankful to have "met" you!
Actually I DO see the connection between the Libra scales and your post -- the scale of justice!
Thank you for this take on jury duty. I hadn't thought of it quite this way but you flesh it out so beautifully. It is indeed an honor to serve and to uphold the duties of a civilized society -- which feels like it's slipping away in so many other ways. I also love that there is an emphasis on learning what it means to hold conscious and unconscious biases. Which of course we all do because we're human, it's not 'bad.' It's so much like the waking up process that goes with meditation, yes? Getting familiar with the workings of our mind so we can be more skillful in how we make choices and move through the world.
The power of meditation—absolutely, Maia, thank you! After I read your reply, it reminded me of a powerful quote attributed to HH The Dalai Lama: “If every 8 year old in the world were taught meditation, we’d eliminate violence from the world in one generation.” I so want to believe that to be true—and yet, the children of Gaza and Ukraine are too busy dodging bombs to meditate.
The perception of jury duty as an imposition seems pretty common. It’s understandable a lot of the time. People have a hard enough time juggling family and work schedules and needs and then a letter arrives in the mail disrupting everything.
Employers usually cooperate to whatever degree they can, but it puts a strain on a lot of jobs if deadlines or timelines are affected. Childcare can become an issue. People get excused for many of these reasons but it’s still a drawn out process that puts people out of their way.
I think a lot of that could be avoided if there were some kind of potential juror list published at the beginning of the year. For instance, let people know in January that in June they may be called up. It would allow them to plan around that possibility to some degree.
Courts, at least where I live, also need to look into more modern means of tracking and contacting potential jurors. I had a coworker who was selected and had to constantly go back and forth during workdays to the courthouse for things that could have easily been done through some kind of online portal or even via text/email.
Yes, I totally agree—so much more could have been written on the reasons why jury duty service is not only disdainful, but also a true hardship for too many. ALL great thoughts on ways to make jury duty service more dignified and respected. That system does need revisioning. My employer would have allowed me to keep earning my salary during that time; the $10 token stipend barely covers a morning Venti latte. Thanks for reading T.O.M.
As an Arizona Court employee for over 35 years, and as a former Jury Services Specialist, I applaud you for this essay and your attitude towards serving. I wish that could be everyone's experience and attitude. However, jury service does not equally impact everyone. It can be a time imposition, financial constraint, job complication, day-care complication, elder-care complication, physically hard on the elderly or the unhealthy, you name it. And although I've heard some doozies, most of the excuses people have for not wanting to be a juror are valid and understandable. And most of the time, jurors are not paid adequately enough to reflect the true value of their time and service. I believe the judge and administrator's comments were meant to empathize with the reality of the hardships prospective jurors face. I don't believe they meant to disrespect the institution of jury service itself. My judges always gave a speech sincerely thanking jurors for their service even when they were not going to hear a case. Just showing up is an important civic duty and helpful. Often, the physical presence of prospective jurors is enough for attorneys and defendants to see that the system at least has the potential to work as designed. That said, it would be a wonderful world if everyone understood how important jury duty is, and if the justice system was always as fair and impartial as it could be.
Thank you Cherie, and I totally agree. I wish I had the space to have written further on my thoughts about the importance AND inadequately compensated act of this civic duty. The undervalued nature of it includes how employers respond to serve their employees who were so called. But that also opens up a Pandora’s Box of Wonders—introducing a pay structure that adequately compensates jurors is rife for inequity, unfairness, and even manipulation. Maybe it is absolutely the best that there be no monetary compensation—but that isn’t perhaps the best form of compensation anyway. Let’s start by insuring no harm is visited, in any way, upon the citizen who fulfills this civic duty with clear eyes, a full heart, and an impartial respect for the law. This involves society as a whole, and everyone in it, coming to a new social compact that in order to continue our path toward a more perfect union, some duties must be sacrosanct to the point where no one will ever hesitate to serve. Should life circumstance be insurmountable, as in the ways you describe and of course are a reality for many Americans, the agreements made with the courts then need also be one of honorable excusals. Compassion must be a requirement in this new social compact.
Yes, I agree! And of course, that Pandora's Box of Wonders applies to so much beyond just jury duty. Sigh. But thank you for your jury service, Kert!
GEESHHH…my total bad as I meant to say a HUGE Thank YOU for your own devotion to a career that served our judicial system, not only well, but as I can only believe to be truly in an exemplary manner. I just plain ol’ forgot. Thirty five years serving the citizens of Arizona in what was no doubt at times challenging—I’ll bet you have stories upon stories you could tell!
LOL - oh, I have stories. I haven't written too many details yet, but I did write an overview of my 35 years in my post "Good Times". Here's a link if you want to check it out. https://justablink.substack.com/p/good-times
Okay, THAT was a WAY cool post detailing some of your 35 years of experience. Thanks for pointing me there—in a way, with the experiences you shared about co-workers, admin leaders/bosses, and the facilities themselves, you share as well how our society undervalues the entire judicial services. Imagine if “we” spent the money that is too easily spent on mega-sport arenas and actually applied that to our schools and court systems, including our educators and our civil servants.
Yeah, pipe dreams, I know.
And now I really need to know what happened to Bull the Piñata! But we’re never really gonna find out, are we.
Thanks for reading it! Pipe dreams is right. Sadly, I think Bull probably went on to the next world soaken wet and full of bullet holes and rat poop. Not a pretty picture! Btw, I just started "The Five Invitations" from the library and can already tell it's my kind of book. Thanks for the recommendation! Last night when I couldn't sleep, I found myself googling death doula training. In July, after my vacation to meet my grandbaby, I plan to call our local hospice and see about volunteering. You've got me started thinking about some things that I feel a need to pursue, at least for a bit to see how it feels. I am SO thankful to have "met" you!
Actually I DO see the connection between the Libra scales and your post -- the scale of justice!
Thank you for this take on jury duty. I hadn't thought of it quite this way but you flesh it out so beautifully. It is indeed an honor to serve and to uphold the duties of a civilized society -- which feels like it's slipping away in so many other ways. I also love that there is an emphasis on learning what it means to hold conscious and unconscious biases. Which of course we all do because we're human, it's not 'bad.' It's so much like the waking up process that goes with meditation, yes? Getting familiar with the workings of our mind so we can be more skillful in how we make choices and move through the world.
The power of meditation—absolutely, Maia, thank you! After I read your reply, it reminded me of a powerful quote attributed to HH The Dalai Lama: “If every 8 year old in the world were taught meditation, we’d eliminate violence from the world in one generation.” I so want to believe that to be true—and yet, the children of Gaza and Ukraine are too busy dodging bombs to meditate.
Have served twice on jury panel....loved the experience...yes it took time, but hey that's all we really have at any given moment.
The perception of jury duty as an imposition seems pretty common. It’s understandable a lot of the time. People have a hard enough time juggling family and work schedules and needs and then a letter arrives in the mail disrupting everything.
Employers usually cooperate to whatever degree they can, but it puts a strain on a lot of jobs if deadlines or timelines are affected. Childcare can become an issue. People get excused for many of these reasons but it’s still a drawn out process that puts people out of their way.
I think a lot of that could be avoided if there were some kind of potential juror list published at the beginning of the year. For instance, let people know in January that in June they may be called up. It would allow them to plan around that possibility to some degree.
Courts, at least where I live, also need to look into more modern means of tracking and contacting potential jurors. I had a coworker who was selected and had to constantly go back and forth during workdays to the courthouse for things that could have easily been done through some kind of online portal or even via text/email.
Yes, I totally agree—so much more could have been written on the reasons why jury duty service is not only disdainful, but also a true hardship for too many. ALL great thoughts on ways to make jury duty service more dignified and respected. That system does need revisioning. My employer would have allowed me to keep earning my salary during that time; the $10 token stipend barely covers a morning Venti latte. Thanks for reading T.O.M.