Monday, February 13, 2012

JurisPRUDEnce




In 8th grade literature class at Bethany Lutheran School with Mr. Furstenaur, we read ’12 Angry Men’. Since there were 12 of us we each got to read a part. I think I was the angry one :)
But that started a fascination with courtroom drama. Reruns of Perry Mason helped cement this interest, even though very few Perry Mason episodes utilized a jury. (too much money to pay all the extras).
I was even pre-law for one semester in college.
Since then I have continued my informal education by
  1. watching more Perry Mason reruns
  2. watching Matlock
  3. reading most of the Earle Stanley Gardner 'Perry Mason' books
  4. reading John Grisham novels.
Therefore I should feel fully competent to head downtown today for my first ever
attempt at jury orientation.
Alas. I am a quivering mess.
I really don’t know what to expect. Most people tell me I’ll probably just get sent back home. 
But then I remember the other courtroom drama I watched.
The O.J. Simpson trial. 
You know, the one with the sequestered jury? The jury who remained sequestered for a good portion of forever?
So, The Prude will either be back tomorrow with some tale that would set Perry and Della chuckling, or she will see you some time next year.

5 comments:

Suef said...

Either way I am looking forward to reading more. Your own Perry Mason adventure. I did jury duty once for a domestic abuse case. It was creepy.

Lori Lipsky said...

Bravo to you for serving your community, Prude!


Isn't it great that you didn't get called when you had three young boys at home! I used to fret about that when my kids were little and we were in a city far from family. I still have never been called...and don't mind if it never happens.

bethBA said...

Oh, I hope you get sent home. I would miss my daily dose of "The Prude"!!
(I was excused once and don't remember why...I think it was while I was recuperating from back surgery and they wouldn't allow my recliner to accompany me...)

ScheltyDebate said...

I won't tell you about the time I was selected for jury duty and then the defendant sent me a letter explaining his side of the story, which meant I was now a witness in his trial for jury tampering... which he then pleaded guilty to after I had driven into the courthouse that morning. I hope that is my one call up, but if not, it was interesting anyway.

Susan said...

Wow, Sandy, wow! I hope to read about the Prudes experience!