Courting - Finale

And this judge looks over at me mildly.  It's like I'm a fly or a sound or a diversion that he hadn't planned on. 

He goes: "Excuse me?"

Me: "You asked about police officers.  I don't trust them."

Judge: "Can you elaborate, Miss…." he looks down at his notes.

Me: "Witting."

Judge: "Yes, please elaborate, Ms. Witting."

Me: "A few years ago, I was stalked by a young man.  He did whatever he wanted because his father was a police sergeant."

The judge looks at me emptily.  No reaction.  The courtroom is silent.  Pin-drop silent.

I decide to go on: "I went to the local precinct for help.  The cops there leered at me.  Made me feel unsafe."

Judge: "You are dismissed.  Good afternoon, Miss Witting."

Me: "It's MRS. Witting."

Judge: "Good afternoon, Mrs. Witting."

Yeah. 

Good system.

Anyhow, never had to report for jury duty since.

* * * * * *

  

Courting Disaster - Pt. 2

So I'm stumping around the Queens Courthouse with a cane, my leg is all braced-up.  I am telling you, I know a lot of people have it worse but shit, this kinda thing is merciless, it truly is. 

Every day you can walk and not have pain, you better fucking thank whatever the fuck.  And thank it like you mean it.

So it gets to be my turn to head into the courtroom, after having waited outside in a hallway for almost 3 hours, no chairs, leaning on my fucking cane and the wall.  Fuckers.

There's this white-haired Brian Dennehey-looking Judge sitting there at the altar (<-???) when I walk in.  He's kinda making fun of some guy who can barely speak a hint of English. (He ends up putting this guy on the jury.)

I tell you the truth, I had no idea my day would turn out the way it did.  I had no particular interest in baring my soul to this bunch of nuts.  Or to any bunch of nuts. 

So they direct me to this chair - RIGHT IN THE JURY BOX.  Like, directly into a jury seat.  I never saw this coming, I thought that perhaps there would be some initiation deal or some shit.   But no, there I am suddenly.  Sitting in a JURY SEAT. 

AND THE TRIAL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

And before we delve in, the judge sez, in a 'throw-away' sorta way: "…And if anyone present should have a problem or discrepancy with police officers…"

And I go: "Yes, Judge.  I have a problem.  I don't trust Police Officers."

To Be Continued >>>>>>>

Courting Disaster

All of my adult life, I managed to avoid jury duty.  It feels like I was called about 60 times.  Well, not 60.  But definitely at least 7.  And I always somehow found a way out of it.  I'm getting pretty old and I've still never served as a jurist, not once in my life.

Anyhow, the last time I was called to duty was the most memorable in terms of being dismissed.

It was a couple of years ago, and at the time I was nursing a leg injury that was fairly serious.

My first day of reporting for JURY DUTY, I go to the courthouse in a state of abject misery, disgust and disrespect, having worked as a lawyer's personal assistant for the past 10 years. 

But I think I was also in a state of mental collapse on some other level.   Which is the norm for me, but at this time it was a little worse than usual…

TO BE CONTINUED..>>>>