Potential Juror # 55

Potential Juror # 55

I could have titled this, "Standing in the Red square."  
The Harris County jury selection system has its act together. The mailings are easy to understand. One can reschedule up to 4 times within 8 weeks - and you can do it online!

The driving directions are pretty clear.  You can even ride the Metro bus for free if you show your summons.  The parking isn’t free, but there is a juror discount!  And you get paid $6 for the day. With the discount, parking is $5.50, so there’s a $0.50 profit for the day!

So I'm in a group of 60 standing in line in the tunnel waiting to go through the metal detector and up to the 18th floor of the criminal courts building.  At least it's not civil litigation.

The line isn't moving.  Something is wrong with the metal detector.
There's no reception down here and I'm starting to have withdrawal - I need my Bolglines RSS feeds!

We got through the detector and walked 14 miles under the street to the Criminal Courts building.  Then we packed 25 at a time into an elevator for a jump to the 18th floor.  "My advice is for you to take advantage of the facilities when you get off the elevator; it may be a while before you get another chance!", the deputy advised us.  You never have to advise a man over 50 to take a leak.

10:30 - So now we're in the hallways (all 60 of us) waiting...............   and waiting .........  There are iron benches - 4 of them, each one seating 3 people. That means 24 are sitting on hard iron benches.  Most everyone else is sitting on the tile floor; but the rest of us are standing and leaning against the wall.  My feet and back are beginning to complain.

Well, there aren’t 60 of us here in the hall.  24 of the folks have been stuck in the elevator for the last 45 minutes.  A deputy just came into the hall and told us the case had “plea bargained out” and our services wouldn’t be needed.  However, we can’t leave until the stuck-24 become unstuck and join us.

10:45 – There they are, here’s your proof-of-jury-duty absence slip and have a nice day.