I was called for Jury Duty this week. Not an unusual occurance, I get a summons just about every year. Colorado law is “One day; one trial.” In other words, you get one shot a year, and if they don’t have a trial that day, you won’t get called.

However, this week I was actually called into the court. So, down I went at 7 am - a 50-minute drive to Delta, because of road construction - and arrived at what I thought would be a group of 25 or so.

One hundred and one people (yes, 101) were called for “Jury Service” - no longer called a duty. We sat for about 35 minutes, very close together in a courtroom built for about 60 people. Looking around it looked like the average age was about 63, with a lot of grey or bald heads and not too many younger faces. There were a few pony-tailed hippies, a guy with “flag” suspenders, and even the local hospital administrator in the group.

Most people I sat around grumbled about having to be there and figuring out ways to get out of service. Then the judge came in a gave instructions to everyone, administered the oath of office and names started being drawn out of a hat.

The first 18 people were seated ( I wasn’t one of them) and questioned extensively by the judge - the case turned out to be a civil one involving a couple from the Little Town I live in, and many of the witnesses they read off were people I knew. I figured that when they found that out about me, I would probably be dismissed, but I wasn’t called. Those that were called had some really interesting answers to questions that are raised to see if you would be biased on one side or another.

We were in the courtroom from 8:15 am - 12:05 pm, waiting to seat a jury. The lawyers finally did get enough to agree on and we were sent on our way. In observing the behavior of this micro-causism of our community members, I thought about a few things:

1. No one really wants to serve on jury duty. One woman next to me at some point said, “why don’t they just ask for 12 volunteers from the group, and let the rest of us go home?” Now really, do you think 12 people would really volunteer?

2. No one really thinks they are prejudiced against anyone else. In some of the questions, it was clear that some people would have answered differently had they been with their friends or neighbors, not in a juror’s box being questioned by some lawyer or judge. We all have prejudices, we just don’t like to admit it to the world!

3. Judges have one of the most boring jobs I could ever think of having. After his instructions and questions, he pretty much just sits in the chair swiveling back and forth. Same thing, day after day - might as well be in a widget assembly line! I think maybe they wear shorts under the robe, just as some form of rebellion!

I would have served, if asked, but not this time - it was going to be a 5-day trial and I have a grandbaby to see this weekend!!!