Timewaster's Guide Archive

I was once called as a witness, but it didn't go to trial.

I've had various experiences with Jury Duty. <snip>

That's quite the experience.  There was a man there whose wife was summonsed at least once each year, but he had never been.  He was only there at the time because his wife was very ill and he was there to either get her released or take her place.

Everytime I changed my car resgistration, driver's license or voter registration it seemed I would get a jury summons within 2 months.

My wife is worried about registering to vote again because she doesn't want to be summonsed. (-:,`

I got into the selection process once. Didn't get picked... maybe that's cause they asked if anyone in the room didn't drink alchohol at all and I rose my hand (kinda felt out of place right then as everyone kind of stared at me). It was a hit and run case.

The defense attorney asked us if anyone belonged to an "organization that prohibits the consumption of alcohol."  Being in Logan, UT, about half of us raised our hands.  I'm not sure how that affected his decision, but the one woman  selected had raised her hand, too.  I didn't notice if any of the other selected had.

Not a rant.  This falls under the "Stuff" part of the forum title.

I received a summons for jury duty, and yesterday morning I arrived a little early by bus. The courthouse was not open, so I stood in the -2 degree (Fahrenheit) weather for 20 minutes until the doors were opened. The sheriff's deputies at the security checkpoint confiscated my cell phone, since I apparently can't take it into the courthouse, and I didn't have a car in which to leave it, and I didn't feel like burying it in the snow until I got back.

About 80 people, potential jury members all, gathered in a room, and waited. Luckily I had a book to read (Mistborn 1). About 15 minutes after the "do not be late" time, a woman came in and called roll. After roll was called, we watched a video about serving on a jury. I think it was supposed to make us feel good about being there, even when one person on the video told us that, after going through the entire selection process, just before the trial was to begin, they were told to go home. His mere presence was enough to convince the accused to change his plea to guilty, or so we are told.

After the video, we waited some more. While waiting, I decided it would be a good idea to use the restroom, since I would unlikely be excused during the actual selection process, and I had drunk quite a bit of water that morning. I wasn't in the restroom for long, but when I returned, the room was empty. Unsure of what to do, I waited for a while, since waiting seemed to be a common theme that day.

Waiting did not seem to produce the desired effect. I considered just leaving, since I had already been declared present at the roll call, so I figured I'd be okay. After more consideration, however, I decided that would be a bad idea. I was there, after all, to perform my civic duty. So I proceeded back down to the security checkpoint and informed them that I was a lost juror. One of the deputies escorted me to the courtroom where the other potential jurors were receiving instructions from the judge.

We were informed that 19 of those present would be called at random, and those people would sit at the jury box for further questioning, and only nine would serve on the jury. Everyone else had to remain in the courtroom in case anyone at the jury box was released. I was the twelfth person called. Actually, my name was not the twelfth selected, but there were many who were not there, and are now held in contempt of court. I'm glad I didn't leave earlier.

We were asked a few basic qualifying questions, such as whether we were US citizens and residents of this particular county, whether we could speak, read, and understand English, etc. The judge also asked each of us to stand and state our name, city of residence, marital status, number of children, profession, and level of education completed. We were then informed of the charges. The defendant allegedly got drunk (one count of public intoxication), destroyed some property (I don't remember the specific charge), and beat up his father (one count of felony assault).

Over the course of the selection process, several jurors were released for various reasons, one because she was a close acquaintance of the defendant, others due to unknown reasons relating to the charges (they spoke with the judge privately), and one because she was once married to an alcoholic who beat her regularly, and she wasn't sure she would be able to be fair to someone who would get drunk and hit someone else.

Two hours of questioning later, we sat quietly while the attorneys passed back and forth a paper with all our names on them, eliminating the names one by one. This part took about 20 minutes. I read my book. The judge then read the names of those nine who would be staying (I was not on the list), and told the rest of us that we could leave. One of the selected requested to speak with the judge one last time before they proceeded, presumably to make a final attempt to not be on the jury. The judge granted the request, asking everyone to remain seated until he came back. I read my book. Ten minutes later, the judge came back and, apparently rejecting the man's attempt, told everyone not selected to leave.

And that was my experience with jury duty. I had received a summons a few months back, but it was canceled before the selection process began. I missed a half day of work, but I do get paid (a whole $18.50).  Quite an interesting process.  Now, I'm not opposed to serving on a jury.  I actually think it would be a good experience.

I didn't look through the entire thread, but I hope this hasn't been posted before.

Actually, I don't care, because if it has been posted, it deserves another look. (-:,`

http://www.lackofbrains.com

I received and read Brandon Sanderson's first published novel, Elantris, over the Christmas break.  I was overall impressed with the story and characters.  I particularly liked the character Hrathen.  He was so much more than the 'evil priest' that we typically see in other works, and I really enjoyed reading his POV and inner conflicts.  The other characters were well written as well; Raoden was likable, and I enjoyed reading Sarene's reflections and concerns.

The rune-based magic was very interesting, and new and different enough from other works.  Other reviewers have commented on the suddenness of the magic that comes into play near the end of the book.  While I don't discount that it was sudden, I felt there was sufficient build-up and explanation as to why, that it didn't really have an adverse affect on my enjoyment of the story.

Elantris is a good standalone novel, with enough leftover plot for a sequel or two.  Not to say that it needs a sequel, but I would certainly leap at the opportunity to read on, should more ever be written.

One small thing that I really like about Sanderson's book is how he has a common thread running through adjacent chapters.  For those who have not read the book (really, has anyone here not?), until the very end, the chapters rotate through POVs of each of the three main characters: Raoden first, then Sarene, and finally Hrathen.  The chapter headings display a common rune, or Aon, as they are called in the book, for the three consecutive chapters.  I didn't make the connection until later in the book, but Sanderson seems to put something related to the Aon in each of the chapters.  For example, I'll share the first I noticed, which was in chapters 13, 14, and 15, where the Aon Deo (the Aon for 'gold' or 'metal') was at each chapter heading.  In chapter 13 Raoden comments on the absence of steel in Elantris; in chapter 14, Sarene selects a metallic-gold dress; in chapter 15, Hrathen pays a guard gold coins.  While this is not earth-shattering, or even an indication of superior writing, I can appreciate the attention to detail that it implies.

Overall, I think this is an excellent first novel by a very talented writer.  There is, of course, room for improvement (when is there not?), and I look forward to more from Brandon Sanderson.

Although I had heard his name a couple times before, I didn't really know much about him until the announcement earlier this month that he would be finishing the Wheel of Time.  So, after a few google searches, I found this site.  I'll be getting Elantris for Christmas so I can check out his writing.