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The Sandals of Justice
Sep. 30th, 2002 11:00 am On Monday I dutifully showed up along with 21 other people for jury duty at the Newburyport District Court House. To get there by 8:30am, I had to get up at 7am much earlier than when I normally get up.
About two hours later, after some waiting, watching a movie, listening to a pep talk by a judge, and some more waiting, we were led up to the court room. The clerk of the court introduced the defendant (DUI), lawyers, and the witnesses. The defendant was neatly dressed in a white shirt, black vest, black pants, a pair of black cowboy boots with shiny buckles and belts, and hair pulled back into a pony tail. On the floor next to his chair was a pair of large mens sandals. Coincidentally, I saw him about an hour earlier when he was standing in front of the court house smoking a cigarette. He was wearing cowboy boots then.
We were sworn in, and then asked a bunch of questions (since this was a DUI case, one of the questions we were asked was if we were a supporter of SADD, MADD, or similar anti-drunk driving groups). After calling up a bunch of jurors (by number) and excusing some jurors, and calling up more jurors, they got with in two numbers of my number before they finally had a panel of seven jurors (six plus one alternate). This was the only case that day that went to trial (the other four cases had either settled or were withdrawn), so the rest of us were thanked and told we could leave.
After leaving the court house, I have just one question about the experience. Why were there a pair of sandals sitting on the floor next to the defendant?
About two hours later, after some waiting, watching a movie, listening to a pep talk by a judge, and some more waiting, we were led up to the court room. The clerk of the court introduced the defendant (DUI), lawyers, and the witnesses. The defendant was neatly dressed in a white shirt, black vest, black pants, a pair of black cowboy boots with shiny buckles and belts, and hair pulled back into a pony tail. On the floor next to his chair was a pair of large mens sandals. Coincidentally, I saw him about an hour earlier when he was standing in front of the court house smoking a cigarette. He was wearing cowboy boots then.
We were sworn in, and then asked a bunch of questions (since this was a DUI case, one of the questions we were asked was if we were a supporter of SADD, MADD, or similar anti-drunk driving groups). After calling up a bunch of jurors (by number) and excusing some jurors, and calling up more jurors, they got with in two numbers of my number before they finally had a panel of seven jurors (six plus one alternate). This was the only case that day that went to trial (the other four cases had either settled or were withdrawn), so the rest of us were thanked and told we could leave.
After leaving the court house, I have just one question about the experience. Why were there a pair of sandals sitting on the floor next to the defendant?
