Order in the Court

In the Fall, I remember not looking forward to going to Jury Duty. I would pass by the Bart station on the freeway and think that in the new year, I would probably have to take Bart and go all the way into Oakland for my jury summons. The thought wasn't at all enjoyable and I didn't want to think too much about it- just be in the present moment and get though the internship and semester.

I did have to go into to Jury Duty, but luckily it was a close location by car, and super convenient. And somehow, it wasn't that bad the way I remember it. Sure, there's a lot of waiting and unknown and that's where books come in handy! But perhaps needing to be somewhere in the morning was kind of a nice change. 

I got the closest I'd ever been to being on the jury- and I was anticipating and really preparing myself for it. My hardship notice fell through, so it seemed the stars were aligning. I actually was surprisingly becoming more interested and intrigued in the whole thing. I was understanding more how a courtroom works, the legality and formality of it all. And there's all different types of people you're around from all backgrounds and walks of life. 

So, when I was able to leave and wasn't picked for the jury, I felt surprised and a little bit disappointed, having strong expectations that I would be. But then I saw it as a commitment that could last not just days but weeks. And to be honest, just being in that environment with all its intensity and required hyper focus attention to understand made me mentally exhausted and drained. 

My first impression of a trial was going to girls' camp. It would be a very silly and comedy driven way of doing a trial- with the counselors as the judge, bailiff and the jury all in silly mannerisms and costumes. It was all based on 'the murder game' we played throughout the week. And it was pure enjoyment and typical camp spirit on Thursday night, with early Friday morning for the consequence of being pushed in the freezing pool water.

Another form of being exposed to it was by reading (and recently reading) the book, To Kill a Mockingbird. There is a famous trial courthouse scene that is very interesting yet has a tragic and sad outcome in the town of Maycomb.