When you are being summoned for jury duty, and was told to show up at 8:15 AM; you would be there even before that to make sure you are on time. At least that was what I did and a few other fellow jurors!
We all went through the check point and got in the room for jurors, not knowing what the process would be. An hour went by, still people reported in for duty, and then two hours went by, still other ones showed up. This process went on for at least three hours for the first batch of jurors.
I got picked to go to the court room with 44 fellow jurors. Out of 45 people in the court room, 14 was picked to be panelists and went through individual interview by the judge, the prosecutor, and the defend lawyers.
Now, here comes the funny part: 6 panelists out of the selected 14, didn't speak English! Of course, the judge and the lawyers had to dismiss them.
To make things more challenging, the fire alarm went off, and we were told to get out of the building. Once out in the hallway, this person said that way was blocked, and sent us to another way. I mean if there is real fire, we would be toasted! So much confusing going on and for new people like me, we had no idea of the drills!
Once out of the building, the jurors were gathered together and led to a safe place at least six blocks away from the building. Just as soon as we all got there, we were told to report back to the court room, and I was dismissed shortly after.
I was relief and thought that I was done for the day! Wrong! After I reported to the clerk and handed in my JUROR badge, he firmly told me that another judge might need me, and I must stay. I was in total confusion now. The conversation went something like this:
-But... I was dismissed by judge "such and such" for physical limitations
-Only from that court, that judge. The clerk said
-He said he sent down a note to you
-Just from that judge "such and such", he replies. There are other judges and courts.
Looking around the jurors' room, the other dismissed panelists and 6 non English speakers were still there! I finally learned the meaning of the word "dismissed" for jury duty!
You are dismissed in one court by one judge, but you're not dismissed for the day until the clerk gave you a letter saying your job is done and you don't have to report back the next day!
Learned!!
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