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OMG: Things are Different in Tennessee, Part 6. Jury Duty

5/12/2017

9 Comments

 

Darn, I'm must live in the SOUTH!

I am the proud recipient of a summons for Jury Duty! Proud? Well if I'm summoned, I must be officially a Tennessean, albeit recently transplanted.

I decided to wear teacher clothes, which some people might call business casual, to show proper respect for the court. To me that meant slacks, a sweater, flat shoes, and an extra sweater in case the courtroom was freezing. I knew denim was out of the question, though jeans are pretty much my go-to Tennessee uniform.

Wrong! Jurors showed up in jeans—and worse.

The summons mentioned both Circuit Court and Criminal Court, stating I would serve in Circuit Court. I was disappointed because Criminal Court would have been more to my liking.

Wrong! The summons is for Criminal Court, but doesn't actually say so. There are two judges that cover seven counties on a circuit--hence the name. That also explains why court only convenes as needed. "In fact, there isn't much scheduled for June," the clerk of court said.

The judge picked the grand jury first. He selected 15 people at random, 12 jurors and 3 alternates. They meet one day a month for four months.

Then he divided the rest of us into 12 person panels. We have a 2-month commitment on an as-needed basis. Since there are no cases this week, we're to check in next Monday after five in the evening to see if any cases are scheduled. The website will list which panels are to report for certain days and when the site must be checked again. I'm assuming a jury will be seated from the panels called.

The clerk instructed us to note any days we are unavailable for duty on the top of the jury information sheet and to consider our planned absences excused and confirmed. (Good, I'll be at my signing on 5/19.)

The judge assigned me to panel 2 and excused me and the rest of my panel for the day at about 9:30 in the morning.

Then I went to the Sheriff's department next door in hopes of finding someone to answer my questions about local law enforcement. A friendly lady at the window in the lobby sent me upstairs to the Sheriff's office manager who answered my questions—I have some editing to do on my work-in-progress. [Please note: The reception worker did not call upstairs first, verify my name, make me walk through a metal detector, or call an escort.]

Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore.... or Broward County either for that matter.

Why I've been quiet on this blog: I blog when I have a bee in my dandelion—or bug in my bonnet, if you prefer a tried and true cliché. Lately, most of the buzzing that has ignited my passion relates to politics. I reason, I suspect accurately, that the world is a better place with one fewer opinionated political blogger.

Later.

GEB
9 Comments
Sam and Stephanie Levine
5/12/2017 01:59:19 pm

Certainly does sound different! Hope you find it rewarding for your writing.

Reply
Gregg
5/13/2017 03:03:05 pm

I'm hoping to get into the Sheriff's Citizen's Academy. That would really be useful.
GEB

Reply
Deborah Sharp link
5/13/2017 02:36:51 pm

Always a pleasure to read about your on-going culture shock (of the good sort). In Fort Lauderdale, when I went to the PD to report a crime, the receptionist cowers behind bulletproof glass, and you "chat'' (hah!) through a speaker that sounds like a drive-through squawk box that's been slammed by a couple of semi-trucks.

Reply
Gregg
5/13/2017 03:08:52 pm

When we were living in the 'Little House', waiting for this one, we had to call the Sheriff because of a vagrant at our door. The guy left before the sheriff arrived.

About an hour later, there was a knock on the door. We thought, on no.

It was the Sheriff's deputy stopping by to tell us they picked up the man and drove him to his home in the next town.

I must be in Tennessee.

GEB

Reply
Richard Conrath link
5/13/2017 10:01:12 pm

Loved your blog. Just got excused from Jury duty yesterday morning! Trial cancelled. Thank goodness.
Sorry can't be at you signing at the Murder on the Beach Bookstore. Will be at Mystery Fest (in the Keys) in June. Maybe I'll see you there.

Reply
Gregg
5/13/2017 11:03:11 pm

Richard,
I'm sorry I'll miss you. We won't be heading south again in June. Enjoy the Key West Conference. It's a good one.
GEB

Reply
richard conrath
5/14/2017 01:01:15 am

Thanks, Gregg. I'm looking forward to it. And thanks again for the mentoring! I am going ahead with self-publishing and your materials helped immensely! Hope to catch you at another time--and all the best on your new release. Richard

Eric Beaty link
5/25/2017 04:06:46 pm

So jealous. I've always wanted to get jury duty, just to see what it's like. Maybe someday, lol.

Reply
Ralph link
1/14/2021 04:47:09 am

Great read thank yyou

Reply



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    I write mysteries about nurses doing extraordinary things.  I'm also a nurse, teacher, wife, mother, cook, enthusiastic reader, and citizen of the world.

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