Doing my Duty

The NEW Durham County Courthouse

I've always found it interesting that many people dread receiving that notice from the county courthouse to serve jury duty. Until recently, I had served twice, once even being placed on a four-day trial jury. I raised my hand high when one of the lawyers asked "Who likes the TV show The Practice?" during juror screening. I think it's kind of exciting, and if I can pretend like I'm a character on Law and Order and serve my country at the same time, all the better.

So when I received that envelope from the Clerk of Courts in November summoning me for jury duty, I was fairly excited. Excellent. Maybe I should scan the newspaper to see what kinds of interesting trials are coming up. Or are you not supposed to do that? Oh, what if I get on a jury they end up sequestering because it's big time and makes national news? This could be the highlight of my year. Except that the date on which I was supposed to appear was the day before I was due to leave town for Christmas. While I was more than happy to grace them with my presence, I was going to be enormously unhappy if my trip was delayed because I was needed longer than one day. The $12 per day they pay was far from enough to make up for THAT inconvenience. This just wouldn't do. 

Within days, I called the courthouse to inquire after my options. "I truly would love to come in," I assured the woman on the phone. Please, please, I thought, just don't make me do it on this date. I also didn't want to take the chance that they might just let me off entirely. I really wanted to go, just at a time that better suited my schedule. "Would it maybe be possible for me to serve on another day?" In my advanced years, I have found that honey does indeed work better than vinegar.

And so it did. "Oh, sure, when do you want to come in?" was the breezy response. Oh, well, okay. This was more than I'd hoped for. Not only did I not have to go on the worst possible date, nor was I being told not to come in at all, but I could pick the BEST possible date. Surely this was a sign that I'd end up on the jury for some kind of fascinating case. Maybe it would be a murder. Or some kind of financial shenanigans. Should I start reading upon civil versus criminal trials?

"Well, how about sometime in January or February. I can make about anything work," I answered amenably. Quickly settling on February 19, I hung up, satisfied that I was doing my civic duty. 

I had no idea at the time that this change in date was going to mean the difference in serving jury duty at the old courthouse or the new one, which was set to open on February 11. As it turns out, Durham had begun building a new Durham Courthouse and Justice Center back in 2010, and it was finally about to open. The eleven story, 318,000sf building sits in downtown Durham at the corner of Magnum and Dillard Streets and virtually shines with newness. The three story staircase mural includes hundreds of photographs from Durham history (including pictures of the infamous former Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong). 

February 19 turned out to be a nasty day, cold and rainy and full of gloom. I easily found my way to the parking deck and followed some equally lost folks to the third level of the deck and the pedestrian walkway over to the courthouse. Three lines had been formed for a security check. The employee's and the sheriff's lines moved efficiently along, but evidently, the visitor's line seemed to be full of people with pockets full of metal. Deciding that the alternative was riskier, I patiently waited in line to move through the security gates. Making my way to the third floor, home of the jury room, I found myself rather impressed. This was a huge room! Bright, with lots of windows, the room included comfortable chairs, televisions, electrical and network outlets, tables and chairs, and vending machines. Someone had even put out Reese's Pieces on the counter. Now here was a place I could be comfortable. 

I made my way to one of the cozy chairs and waited for the standard introduction to jury service starting Charles Kuralt to start on the televisions. I was looking forward to this. Who doesn't love Charles Kuralt? Okay, you might have a bit of an issue with the affair and second family that came to light after his death. Nevertheless, the journalist is held in high regard by many North Carolinians.  For more years than I know of, Charles hosted the video that describes the importance of jury service to all potential jurors throughout the state of North Carolina. It's tradition. Imagine my surprise to find that Charles had been retired (or maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, what with him being dead and all). Instead, we watched a new video that assured us our time and service as jurors would be valued. Oh, modernization.

The attending clerk shared some logistics, including the fact that there were three trials being seated that day. Chances seemed good that I'd at least be interviewed to be placed on a jury. All I had to do was wait. And wait, I did. After I finished my first book, I began playing with my new iPhone, a recent upgrade from the 4 to the 5. I caught up on email, read twitter posts. and added the book I'd just read to Goodreads. I was just pulling out my second book when the clerk began calling names to go into a courtroom. Holding my breath, I waited. Interestingly, in her attempt to offer some privacy, she couldn't decide whether she should call out first or last names, so there was some confusion when John Jones and Mary John both arrived at the front. By the time she was done, neither my first nor last name had been called. 

I had gotten a few chapters into my second book when the clerk called lunch and said to be back at 2:15. Startled, I looked up at the clock. But it's only 11:15? Really, a three hour lunch? No wonder it takes so long for a case to get through the courts. Not wanting my hair to frizz, I'd brought enough food with me to keep me from starving and stayed in the lounge. However, before long, I was incredibly bored and began walking the building. It really is beautiful, quite spacious and very clean. There are three different "circulation systems" so that the public, the staff, and the prisoners only see each other in the courtroom. Because it's a secret there there are prisoners in the courthouse, I guess. I made my way back to the lounge. 12:30. It was going to be a long day.

The people who had gone out for lunch began filtering back in around 1:30, and by 2, we were ready to go again. I chatted a bit with the lady next to me. I closed in on finishing my second book. I waited. Shortly after 3, we saw the TV go off and heard the clerk begin to tap the microphone, a sign that she had news to impart. After a minute or two, we all began to look at each other. What was taking so long? We were ready for the next trial! It soon became apparent that the delay was due to an animated conversation taking place between the clerk and a sweet old couple who seemed to have stopped by to, well, I don't really know why they stopped by. I hope it was important, because it was another 10 minutes before the clerk actually started speaking. 

Only to report that we were being released from jury service. The last case (never did hear what happened to the second one) had pleaded out, so we were no longer needed. Well, for Heaven's sakes. I could have left at 11:15 if I'd known that! I would have been thrilled to serve on a jury, but if that wasn't going to happen, I'd just as soon be at home taking a nap. My experience was over for at least two years. I'm disappointed that I didn't get to do anything but hang out, but it sure was a lovely place in which to do it.