DC Jury Duty AGAIN

We moved here twelve years ago from the Midwest. I think I was called to jury duty one time in the thirty years we lived there. Without a doubt, you can depend on having jury duty in DC at least every two years. The last time I was summoned was September 1, 2016. And guess what? I got a summons yesterday in the mail - September 1, 2018. Isn’t that just a coincidence? Of course, the date for this summons is for October - just a few days more than the two year opt out option. So I filled in all the required information on line, including the section for the date you last served. When I logged out, it said the court will review the dates of my last service and determine if I am eligible to get excused. I highly doubt it but it’s worth the try - especially since this is the FIFTH time I have to go. Being retired doesn’t make it any easier - in fact it’s more inconvenient because we were just planning some trip options but that’s now on hold. And if it’s anything like the last time, my husband got his summons about a week after I got mine. This is definitely another reason we wouldn’t mind living elsewhere. This is the kind of lottery I don’t like winning. 

A Walk to the DC Courthouse for Jury Duty

I had jury duty last week and had to be at the courthouse by 8 AM. I was called for a murder trial and was there most of the day only to finally be released after the jury quota was met. My husband had jury duty this morning and didn't have to be there until 10:30 AM. He drove me the one mile because it was early in the day. But we decided to walk this morning instead, and then I would walk home by myself. We took our time, and arrived within twenty five minutes. The place was jammed with traffic and pedestrians alike - maybe it's because the holiday weekend ended and all the real business begins. So after I dropped him off, I started back and took a little different way home, trying to stay in the shade as much as possible. There is a complex of courthouse buildings, and a very shady park. Crossing The street takes you to the art museum, then pass by the Capitol building and on to the the US Botanic Garden. I stopped a bit to check out the flowers, and the bees, and the views. Then I headed up Independence Avenue in the shade of the house office buildings. In the end it only amounted to 2.8 miles!  By the time I took a shower, had a slight bite to eat, and settled in to write my blog the phone rang. It was my husband calling to get picked up. He was already dismissed after just two hours! Another example of Wiley Coyote. He was glad to get back home. 

Jury Duty Again

I haven't gotten up this early since I retired this year. And of course I was assigned to the 8AM jury duty session. I brought along an apple and a sandwich just so I don't have to deal with lunch. Since it is raining today, my husband drove me to the courthouse when I could have easily walked. Everyone looks thrilled to be here, or maybe I am just projecting my mood on everyone else. It feels like I was just here - it's the fourth time in ten years. It was like going back to work having to go through the magnatometer. Then I took the escalator to the third floor and was the second in line to get checked in - they happened to be calling everyone as I walked in. I found a place in the jury room next to a window so I could at least enjoy the scenery below. I am hoping they will let us out early because of the upcoming holiday weekend. What's new this time is a Visa debit card to collect my $4.00 transportation fee and maybe $30 for the day? I'm glad I have my iPad so I can doodle a bit. The wierd thing is that my husband gets to come here next week. For that reason alone I hope I'm not called to serve. 

Jury Duty AGAIN!

I think I served on Jury duty one time in the thirty years we lived in Wisconsin. We have lived in DC for ten years, and I just received notice for jury duty for the FOURTH time. It is beyond annoying to have to do this duty so often. I'm not sure what that says about the affairs of this town. The only thing different about it this time is that I am retired and will be compensated "handsomely" for spending however many days doing this. If it isn't me, my husband gets called as many times. So essentially you could say that we are at the courthouse every year between the two of us. Now you can register on line before you go. Luckily we now have iPads and iPhones to keep us occupied. The last time I spent the entire time doing a cat custom digital portrait. But I actually didn't mind missing work and do that instead. But since I am retired that is the last place I  want to be - iPad or not. 

Jury Duty Moultrie Courthouse on Indiana Avenue

I got my summons about a month ago and was dreading going to serve on jury duty. It is an interruption no matter how you look at it. And it is the third time in less than eight years.  I arrived ahead of time, as usual. Since we live about a mile away it didn't take very long for my husband to drop me off. Some folks were having trouble figuring out how to get through the metal detector. I'm a pro now that I have to walk through one several times during the day where I work. So we waited and waited in the large lounge area... Then the orientation film was played. It was freezing cold in the place - my feet felt like ice cubes. Then the second batch of jurors started milling in around 1000... I'd like to know why I always get the 8 AM time period? The orientation film was played a second time. No calls were made for jurors until about 1100 AM. They let us out for lunch for an hour, and we returned at 2 PM. There would be no more calls for the day and we were free to leave at 2:45 PM. They told us then to expect to be back in two years. At least this time we learned we could print our proof of service letter from home rather than wait for the ATM. I did get to work on a couple cat portraits, so that was nice. And I got home earlier than expected, which was even better. I've never served on a jury, but certainly have been called to jury duty often enough since we moved here. We lived in Milwaukee for thirty years, and I was called one time. Maybe if I actually got an opportunity to be on the jury, I might even enjoy the experience.