CALLED TO SERVE . . . JURY DUTY

I am on call for jury duty. I have had this responsibility since July 1. I will be finished being on call September 30. This means that any time during these 3 months, I can be summoned. (That's why I've had to stick around this summer.) Well, I had my first summons to appear in the 4th District Court August 5 and 6. I have been on two other juries in my life. What a difference! The first two trials were in 1983.

Here are the differences:

. . . 1983 On call for ONE month. (It was in May, the LAST month of school!)
. . . 2010 On call for THREE months. (One of the months is the FIRST month of school!)

. . . 1983 I was in my early 20s.
. . .2010 I was not in my early 20s.

. . . 1983 Received my letter. Had a phone number to call each week where a recording told me where the trial was, or if I was needed. Thanked me for services.
. . . 2010 Received my letter. Tells me where the trial will be and the dates. Had a phone number to call the night before to hear a recording if there will be a trial the next day. Letter also said to not wear shorts, tank tops, hats, and to bring no one else with you, especially children.

. . .1983 Walked inside the courtrooms. One in Spanish Fork, the other in Orem.
. . . 2010 Walked in the building in Provo. Purse and bag went through a scanner. All jewelry, shoes, etc. had to be off. Walked through a scanner..,felt like I was at an airport.

. . . 1983 Left my class with a sub.
. . . 2010 Walked into courtroom. Greeted as Miss Mitchell by the bailiff, a former Alpine Elementary alum.

. . .1983 Fifteen people in the jury pool.
. . .2010 Fifty people in the jury pool. (This time, I had a number . . . #38!)

. . .1983 The jury selection, trial, and deliberation took 1/2 day...total.
. . . 2010 Watched a DVD about being a juror. The judge spent 30 minutes talking to us about our responsibilities...before the questioning even started!

. . . 1983 Called to the stand. Took oath. Questioned individually by judge.
. . . 2010 Each juror stood, raised right hands, and took oath together. We then read questions on a paper that was passed around, stood, and responded. 1. Full name 2. City of residence. 3. Occupation 4. Education 5. Marital Status 6. If married, occupation and education of spouse. Judge spent 45 minutes asking the group questions. If you answered yes, he called your number, and you had to explain.

. . . 1983 Picked for both juries. Youngest juror. Only one in a dress. Only one taking notes.
. . . 2010 Not picked. Only one in dress. One of five people taking notes.

. . . 1983 Both cases were DUIs. (Driving under influence of alcohol). I was foreman at first trial. Second trial thrown out because arresting officer had made a mistake. Both defendants were in mid 40s.
. . . 2010 Two defendants, aged between 18 and 22. Charges: 2 assault charges for each (2nd degree felony), 1 charge each of starting a riot (3rd degree felony).

. . . 1983 Four women picked for jury. I was youngest. Only one with post high school education.
. . . 2010 Seven women and one man picked for jury. One woman had a master's degree. She was the same race as one of the defendants. The man was working on GED and unemployed. The six other women...2 were attending college, 1 worked, 3 stay-at-home moms. Only one of the eight had a college degree. No juror above 30.

. . . 1983 The lawyers didn't know that I had won state and national awards in high school and college in debate and forensics, had judged high school debates, and knew what I was doing.
. . . 2010 All jurors with college degrees (except one) were excused.

. . . 1983 Payment? $8. 15
. . . 2010 Payment? $18.50