Well, I was not chosen for a jury. No surprise there. But I did go through jury selection or voir dire. That was fascinating. I would like to tell you a little about the process I went through.
The morning began by going through courthouse security. The deputy processing us through the scanner told me that I did not have to take my shoes off. The gentleman behind me complained when he had to take his own shoes off. The deputy asked me my age. "65," I said. Then the deputy asked the complaining gentleman's age. "32," he said. "That's why," the deputy said. The man continued to complain. And complained. And continued.
Just a moment before, I had asked the deputy as I approached the scanner if the people were treating him all right.
Before jury selection began, we saw "The Florida Juror" video. Everything is a video. The video bore little resemblance to the reality that was to follow, as they say.
An attorney pulled up a seat next to me in the jury waiting area that morning. What are the odds? I had no idea he was an attorney until he started reviewing legal briefs. After the video, he remembered that although it is not a legally recognized excuse, meaning it is not in the statutes, that the same Clerk let him go the last time he was called for jury duty when he announced to the Clerk that he is a practicing lawyer.
He did it again and it worked again.
The courtroom was freezing. There were many jokes about hanging meat in there because it was as cold as a meat locker. There was a prospective juror in the hallway wearing a hoodie. With short sleeves.
Go figure.
When I was asked during two rounds of jury selection what I did for a living, I said truthfully that I am a retired lawyer and a writer. Each time, I was asked a followup question about what kind of law I practiced.
I did not get a single question asking me what I write about.
Missed opportunities? Maybe. Or maybe all the lawyers involved had already decided not to pick a lawyer, retired or otherwise, for their client's jury.
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