My Day in Court

I was called to jury duty and reported to the Jackson County Courthouse in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, on April 26.  Some folks complain about jury duty, although there isn't much point in doing so.  At least that's the way I feel.  Better to just make the best of it.  Besides, I really do believe it is my civic duty.

I don't go into downtown often enough to get good at it, so I decided to take the bus.  The morning bus was an express commuter bus, and it worked out great.  It made a number of stops, and soon was full of a diverse group of people.  It was a happy bus, it seemed to me.  People would get on and say good morning as they walked to their seats.  The bus driver said he loved all of us, and I think he meant it.

It was only 7 am when I arrived at the courthouse, so I walked to The Show Me Cafe, where I sat down to a bagel and a cup of coffee.  I looked across at the impressive statue of the man on the horse; almost anyone looks grand when seated on a handsome horse, I thought.  I later learned it was Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, and the first president to be born in a log cabin.  So it was that Jackson for whom our county is named, I thought.  Got to say I have a problem with what happened to the Native Americans on his watch, though.

Oh, about 7:45 I walked over to the courthouse and went through a security checkpoint, pretty much like at the airport, only we were allowed to leave our shoes on.  They don't allow sharp objects, including knitting needles.  People usually bring something to occupy their time while they sit, waiting to be called for a panel.  Apparently they can't bring knitting any longer.

We watched a film about jury service, and it featured local celebrities like former baseball star George Brett, TV weatherman Bryan Busby, and Kansas City Star columnist Charles Gusewelle.  Then we all were asked to stand when a judge came in.  He had us all raise our right hands and take an oath, but now I don't remember exactly what I was swearing to.  The judge had explained that we were to say, "So help me God," unless we had an objection to God.  In that case, we were to say, "Under penalty of law."  I was thinking about the Judge's instructions when I took the oath, and that's why I don't remember.  Probably something about abiding with court procedures and being fair, and I was going to do that anyway, so help me God and under penalty of law.

If anyone had a reason why they were unable to serve, they could approach the bench.  However, His Honor told us that he suffers from type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea, and the court can accommodate the needs of jurors with many ailments.  In other words, if you plan on being excused for a medical reason, it better be good.

As it turned out, there were only two trials on the docket for that day, and both were settled out of court.  We were dismissed at 11:45 am.

The commuter bus would not start running until about 3:30, so what to do?  The streets near the courthouse seemed empty and chilly.  Ordinarily I don't mind being alone and even enjoy it, but this time it didn't feel so comfortable.  The sky was gray overcast, and there was a wicked wind.  I walked to 10th and Main, where I caught a different bus that would bring me close enough to home.  That bus was definitely not an express bus, and not a happy bus at all; it followed a circuitous route that lasted for an hour and a half.

After I arrived at home, warmed up, and ate lunch, everything seemed better.  Everything went great except for the bus ride home, and in retrospect even that wasn't all that bad.