Monday morning I woke up, and decided to stand up and be counted, make my sacrifice as an American, and do my civic duty, I answered my summons.
Upon calling the phone number provided, I was informed that my services weren't required in the Redlands courthouse, but my "group" had been transferred to the county courthouse and I should go there. To my dismay, the time was ½ hour earlier than the original time in Redlands and the courthouse was ½ hour further away. After looking at the clock I determined that if I wasn't caught breaking the sound barrier I could make it on time. A dash through the shower, throwing on whatever clothes were at hand and turning a ½ hour journey into 15 minutes of frantic driving I arrived 10 minutes late.

After a mad dash from my car to the jury assembly room I stood in line for another ½ hour to get checked in. Finding that all the seats were occupied, I stood against the wall and started surveying the room and became worried that this lot was considered my peers. Undaunted, I continued to wait, and continued to wait, and continued to wait. (you get the picture). Finally, they split myself and my "peers" into 5 groups of app. 60 people each. Groups A through E. I was part of the C group. After another long wait, the powers that be, determined that this many people weren't needed and they dismissed group D and A.

Another wait determined that those in groups C (my group) and E could get an extended lunch but we needed to return at 1:30 that day. As it turns out it was a good thing that I had an extended lunch as I spent virtually all of it on the phone rearranging my schedule.
I arrived back at the courthouse and the assembly room precisely at 1:30 as directed, only to sit and wait. After surveying the room, I noticed that there were a lot more empty seats. I then discovered that group B left for lunch shortly after we did, but were dismissed. As I was in a courthouse, and there were quite a few uniformed police officers around, I thought it best to persevere.

At approximately 2:30 a bailiff came in and group E was escorted away and I breathed a sigh of relief as I was apparently saved. I sat there waiting to hear the announcement and receive my dismissal. I sat there, and I sat there, and I sat there. (Well, you get the picture). Finally at about 3:30 another bailiff came in and my group were escorted up 4 flights of stairs to the courtroom. We filed into the courtroom where a judge greeted us, thanked us for our service, gave us a very brief synopsis of the case before us, then dismissed us for the evening.

She admonished us not to talk about the case with anyone, (as if I knew anything about it at that time} and told us that unless we wanted to be found in contempt of court we'd better be there again the following day at 9:30.
I woke up the following morning, far more prepared that the first day, and went to court.

We started precisely at 9:30, of course the judge didn't till 10:00, but she did apologize for being late. We then started the jury selection process, I was picked in the first group and sat in the jury box and answered all the questions posed to me by both the prosecutor and the defense attorneys. They then started to dismiss potential jurors for cause and those that the counselors felt were detrimental to their case for whatever reason. I sat there while those around me disappeared and were excused. They continued to fill the empty seats in the jury box with more and more people from group C and continued to dismiss them. We finally broke for lunch at 12:00 and returned at 1:30. I took my #5 seat in the jury box, and the process continued. Finally at about 3:15 both counselors were satisfied with the jury.

Of the original group that went up, there was but two of us left. But 12 jurors and 2 alternates were now seated. I was ready to clear my mind of any preconceptions I may have thought, determined to hear all the testimony, and make a decision that was just and fair to both the defendant and the state of California. Then the unthinkable happened. It appears that the defendant can also dismiss a juror for his/ her own reasons and needs not specify why.
You guessed it, it was me. I wish I knew why he dismissed me, but when I think back on it, I know I would have given him a fair shake, but I would have followed the course of law as it was explained to me. Maybe that's why he dismissed me.
Many people complain about receiving summons, I do too but I still look forward to it. Every time I learn something new, and I've yet to sit on a trial. I have this kinda fear/ loathing feeling about determining someone else's future because I have a tough enough time determining my own. But the next time I'll be there again, and I'll complain about it but it's a small price to pay to live in a free society where you're innocent until proven guilty and have a right to be judged by a jury of your peers. Such as they may be.

Rascal