Last week, I pulled jury duty during this pandemic. Ugh.

[suegeo]

The thought of being in a Hennepin County court room with a couple dozen people made my stomach drop. I lost sleep over this.

Luckily, one can postpone for any reason for 9 months.

Also, Minnesota courts just suspended trials and in-person hearings for 2 months

[link:https://www.startribune.com/citing-covid-concerns-minnesota-courts-suspend-trials-and-in-person-hearings-for-two-months/573129811/?refresh=true|]

Read the article from my perspective, an older person, summoned for duty. While the hospitals are filling up and the virus is spreading like wildfire.

The air filtration in the court was rated high risk.

They aren't screening for COVID.

Retired judges were willing to help with backlog of cases, but not in person, because what elderly person would want to be indoors at this time?

Jurors were willing to serve up to 3 weeks ago, but now with the surge in COVID, were less willing to serve.

No shit sherlock.

STRESSSSSS!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. My brother recently got a jury summons for Ramsey County

and he wasn't happy; glad to know they've suspended jury trials for awhile. I got one for Hennepin County a couple of months ago and was able to opt out because of my age - which sort of disappointed me, because in a former life I chose juries but I've never had the chance to be on one. If they call me again once it's safe I'll be glad to do it.

[PJMcK]

3. I've served on 3 juries

One was a civil case that was settled just as we were about to deliberate.

The first criminal case was cut and dried but we deliberated for several hours before convicting the accused of the middle of three charges. It seemed to us that if he had committed the least charge, it followed that he committed the highest. We settled on the middle charge as a compromise, of sorts.

The second criminal case was even more clear. Although the trial lasted 2-1/2 days, our deliberations took exactly 10 minutes to acquit the accused. The charges were way over-the-top, the witnesses were clearly sketchy, the charges were grossly unfair and the defendant had a compelling personal story.

In all 3 cases, the judges made certain that the jurors understood the proceedings and consistently expressed gratitude for our service. The cases were all fascinating and I felt that I was serving an important role in our justice system.

In normal times, I encourage everyone who can to serve on a jury, if called. These days, though, not so much!

[doc03]

2. I have petit jury Jan Feb Mar Apr 2021. nt