Few people actually enjoy Jury Duty. It’s a big inconvenience, can get in the way of work and family and the day can be downright boring (having served multiple times, the staff at GoodNewsPDX knows this too well). However, while Jury Duty may be an annoyance, there are things that are MORE likely to raise one’s blood pressure. For example, people who don’t think the rules apply to them. The driver who skips past a line of cars waiting at a light, only to crowd in at the front. The nattering twit in the movie theatre who enjoys talking throughout the film. And, of course, people who are summoned to Jury Duty but decide they don’t really need to attend.
A couple dozen of these scalawags were called before a Lane County judge this week for skipping out on service over the summer. The ne’er-do-wells were hand delivered summons by Sheriff’s deputies and got the pleasure of standing in court to be LECTURED about their irresponsibility. Plus, each juror STILL has to serve over the course of the winter.
The action was taken after several jurors skipped out on service, leaving the court without enough bodies to fill the jury boxes on three trials set to start that day back in August. Apparently, random citizens had to be plucked off the street to fill in.
Those who showed up and took their lecture like adults are apparently getting by with a warning. A few lay-abouts ignored the SECOND summons and now are looking at “unpleasant consequences.”
