What I learned Yesterday

The first time having to attend the Juror Process here in Jacksonville I learned the following things in no particular order:

• No matter how close you crowd people together most of them still will not have anything pleasant to say.
• I can still be led around like "one of the herd".
• No matter how many times you tell people to turn off their cell phones, half of them think that it does not mean "Them". These people will be sitting right beside you. The judge seems to have no sense of humor on this point especially when he has just reminded everyone that they were to be turned off before entering his court.
• No matter what time you get there, a lot of "close quarters sitting around" will be required.
• None of the people I sat near seemed to be morning people. Zombie is the word I would use.
• Some people will doze off when the jury pool is being questioned by the attorneys. Sleepy was not selected as a juror for the trial, Grumpy was though.
• The only people coughing up lungs will be on either side of you, or in front and behind you. To remedy this I tried to cough louder and attempted to send spittle all over them.
• If there is someone with hygiene problems or smelly clothes, they will sit nearest you. It was a blessing it was so cold today and the room had a nice chill. It still was not able to keep some funk from "floating about".
• Wearing a flag lapel pin will earn you an automatic ticket to attend the trial as a Juror. I also think wearing the proper attire adds to the chance of selection too.
• There are precious few change machines near the vending machines. This means if you bring enough change you have to unload your pockets of all metal items to get through both security stations. A gentleman in front of me had about 15 dollars in change. After the fourth try he managed to empty his pockets.
• Never be one of the first 7 jurors by number, 85% of the first 7 was selected to participate as a juror. I was number 3.
• Having a prostate radiation treatment is not a good enough reason to get out of jury duty.
• The Courthouse in Jacksonville was built during the Eisenhower administration. It is still a nuclear safe site in case of attack.
• Everyone that works for the Clerk of the Courts in appearance seemed to have great attitudes.

It was truly an interesting day spent in the Courthouse. The next day I spend there is on the 4th. I will get to see my first trial.