I've had an interesting scenario pop up in my life; Well, it didn't really pop as I've known about it for a while however it's happening from the end of this week and so it feels quite sudden. I was summoned for jury duty back in June and deferred to November due to an overseas vacation.
Here in South Australia, it's law that one attends unless there are extenuating circumstances that may preclude a person such as poor health, financial difficulties (the courts don't pay much - $20/day) or other such reason that one can't serve as a potential juror. So, I'm off to jury service for the month of November and could be called to the jury of 12 for multiple cases of any and all nature.
I wrote a little while ago about prejudice and judgement and the importance of understanding the facts before applying either. It's interesting, and a lot more real, now as serving on a jury requires a verdict, guilty or not guilty to be handed down by the jurors based on facts delivered by the prosecution and defence and someone's future and freedom depends on logical and unbiased opinion on the part of the jury who deliberates the case. It makes me think of people who have been falsely accused and convicted then exonerated over the years and that I don't want to have something like that on my conscience.
The cases I may be asked to deliberate over can be anything from corporate fraud and armed hold up to rape, murder and worse. I'm not looking forward to it, to be honest. It means a month off work although I have confirmed with my employer that I will continue to operate. They will continue to pay me either way, however, I am reluctant to lose a month of work which will only affect my results in the near to mid-term future. So, I'll work. Albeit more remotely.
I believe it will be interesting to see the legal system in action and to be a small part of it. I'm not looking forward to an alleged criminal or their families staring at me sitting in the jury or having to sit through tedious sessions of facts and evidence although that's the job of a juror and it's my civic duty to perform my service with a high degree of integrity and honesty. I'm a little concerned about being recognised back out in the street at some later date, especially so if one of the cases I am on is highly-emotional, however, I'll have to deal with that in time I suppose.
I'll not be able to write on Steemit about anything at all when it comes to the cases as I'll be sworn in as a juror and as such will be unable to repeat anything I see or hear in the courtroom I guess. Still, I can talk about my experience I guess and may do so. As I said above, I'm not looking forward to it for a few reasons, however, will perform my duty to society as a juror impartially and with respect to the facts presented. I know that someone may be incarcerated due to the judgement of a jury I may sit on although I suppose if a person needs to be willing to do the time if they want to do the crime...