Order in the Court

My September just got a little more interesting.  A letter came in our mailbox last week. It said, in part:

"Your name has been randomly drawn, and you are being summoned for jury duty service in the U.S. District Court. Trial by jury is a keystone of our system of justice. Jury service is, therefore, both an opportunity and an obligation for every American. ... Failure to obey this summons may be punishable by fine and/or imprisonment."

I had filled out a juror survey back in May 2011, but this is the first I'd heard of it since. 

Well, since I wouldn't want anyone to have to show up to prosecute me, I filled out my online response before my five-day deadline.

Each Monday night, starting August 31 and continuing through September, I'll have to make a phone call to see whether I need to show up at the courthouse in Wichita the following week. Randy teases me that I'll have to hear a murder case. His mom was on a murder jury in Reno County when he was a kid. I love mysteries, but a murder trial? I don't know about that.

Since I had no idea what kinds of cases U.S. District Courts hear, I Googled it. (If you can fill out a jury form online, I guess you can find out what it's about online, too!)

Here's what I found on Answers.com:

U.S. District Courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction for the federal government, and hear both criminal and civil cases. Some of the classes of cases heard in District Court include:

• Criminal cases involving violation of federal laws (e.g., kidnapping, bank robbery, drug trafficking, etc.)
• Civil cases involving torts under federal law, the Constitution or US treaties
• Civil cases between parties of different states for amounts in excess of $75,000 (diversity jurisdiction)
• Civil actions brought by or against the United States (with some exceptions)
• Maritime cases under federal jurisdiction
• Cases involving ambassadors or foreign dignitaries
• Appeals of certain federal agency decisions (e.g., Social Security Appeals Council decisions)

We'll see if my September gets rearranged with trips to Wichita. 

Still no internet at home. The frustration continues!!

EJuror

They found me.

For years, I've gotten questionnaires from Stafford County about jury duty. I'm all for doing my civic duty. But I live in Reno County. The dividing line goes right in front of my house, but I live in Reno County, nevertheless.

With a Stafford address, I realize it's confusing. Shhhhh ... don't tell Reno County courts.

But this time, they mean business. I got a letter from the U.S. District Court:

Dear Potential Juror:

The District of Kansas qualifies potential jurors every two years from all 105 counties in the state of Kansas. This is not a summons for you to appear for jury duty. However, federal law, 28 U.S.C 1864(a) requires that you complete a questionnaire which will determine whether or not you qualify to serve as a potential juror for the United State District Court ...

It came with a written questionnaire, but the letter encouraged potential jurors to complete the questions online.

It was dated April 18, 2011, but it didn't arrive in my mail box until May 16. It said I had to fill out the survey within 10 days.


Really, Your Honor. I didn't get it until May.

Long, long ago, my mother-in-law served on a jury for a murder trial. So we shall see if my name comes up in the next two years. I love mysteries, but a murder trial? I don't know about that.