So I’ve officially fulfilled my civic duty for the next eight years. Woohoo. 🙂

I don’t know if there are any litigators out there who would care to comment on this, but I get the distinct feeling that my level of education was an important factor in my not being chosen. (the other people in my group who had advanced degrees were also dismissed) That, and the fact that I know too many lawyers. (related to one, used to date one, living with someone who’s *almost* one)

As much as I joked about trying to get out of it, once there, I certainly wasn’t going to do or say anything untrue to try and get out of it. As I was leaving the courthouse yesterday, some guy who was in my group said something to the effect that there should be a special punishment for people who try and weasel out once they’re already sitting in the box.

One of the attorneys said something yesterday during the selection process that struck me. He asked the prospective jurors to put themselves in the place of the defendant. “Now ask yourself if you’re the type of person you would want sitting on your jury.”

Even though I wasn’t in the box at that time, I knew my answer.

Yes. Absolutely. I am exactly who I would want sitting on that jury.

Too bad that’s exactly why the lawyers don’t want me sitting on a jury. 😉

Duh, I almost forgot why I started this post.

Sitting in front of me was a woman who said, when asked if there was any reason we would be uncomfortable or unable to devote our full attention to the case, that being in the city made her feel “anxious”. Not the driving into the city part, but the actual being in the city part.

I’m from Small Town America. Believe me, it’s an entirely different world from city life. And it has not once occurred to me to be frightened of living (or being) in the city. I’m more cautious in some ways, yes, but I certainly don’t live my life in fear. I have a lot of friends who feel the same way. So it occurs to me that it’s not people from small towns who fear the city, it’s people from the suburbs who fear the city. I find it utterly mind-boggling.