February 24, 2005

Yesterday I had one of the more interesting -- and yet, at the same time, more boring -- days I've had in a while, courtesy of the Miami-Dade County Criminal Court System. Yes, that's right, my first ever jury duty experience. Any day that starts off with public transportation before 7:30 AM is not going to be that great, I can tell you that much. However, I did sort of enjoy riding the MetroRail. I rip on public transportation a lot, but you really can't beat flying over the whole of US1 in 10 minutes. I doubt the bus system has any redeeming features, though.

There is only so much I can say about sitting in a waiting room with the rest of Miami-Dade's elite. Saw part of a really crap romantic comedy called "Return to Me" that even David Duchovny couldn't save (Love David D./Fox Mulder. Don't prefer rom-coms). Being the daughter of a 5th generation attorney, I naturally asked my dad for advice before embarking on the jury duty journey. Wise father imparted this gem: bring a sweater. Could not be more glad I listened. "Arctic" doesn't even begin to describe the temperature in that building. Making the courtroom sub-zero must be some intimidation tactic because Tuff & Fearless Jill was actually a bit nervous sitting in the jury box w/4 law dawgs shooting confusing questions at me.

When we took our lunch break, I realized the max I could spend on food was $2.75 to afford the $1.25 trip home on the Rail. Sooooooooooo given that everything in courtroom cafeteria is $5.99-plus (why?), I was compelled to buy a $1.50 hot dog from one of those cart people on the corner. I have had hot dogs from these people before (I know: gross) but never have I ever had one that smelled so wrong. I took two bites & threw it away. Probably didn't help that I asked her to put onions on it. Now that I think about it, with the communication problems we were having, I may not have ordered a hot dog at all. [Must learn Spanish.] I ate "lunch" on the steps, sandwiched between the Justice Building & the Pre-Trial Holding Center (a.k.a. Jail) with a lot of pigeons & bums. It was awesome & very scenic.

In the end, I didn't get picked for jury duty. Sort of disappointing. The outcome may have had something to do with me telling that defense lawyers that I really didn't believe in the whole "innocent until proven guilty" thereom that is the crux of our judicial system. I know I risk sounding like a Communist here. But, hey, the guy looked like a child molester. What could I do? Anyway, I had to be honest, but I felt like a bad guy for saying it.

Between the crap food & the crap movie, it may sound like the day was a bust, but not so: They tell me they are going to mail me a check for $15 for my service. Really??? After all that, I feel like I should be paying them! When that check comes in, drinks are on me. Truthfully, I was glad to go to jury duty as I did learn a lot. Still, JustJill is not the forum for the bright light of my flashing intellect, but a place for me to share random, BS, off-the-top-of-my-blonde-head thoughts, thus leaving you deprived of my enlightening conclusions re: the American justice system.

Yes, I have been here for two hours and no, I have not done any work today.

(Additional update: This was my horoscope for today. I give it 5 stars: "You can convince anyone of anything under these stars as people see you as a leader. It's the perfect time to let true romantic passions have free rein." Holla.)