Confessions of a researchaholic

I finally reported to a jury service after all these years.

The county court house sends out post cards to randomly selected residents as potential jurors. The night before the designated date, the recipients can check the court website to see if they need to report to the court house the next day. I never had to, until this time.

Upon arrival at the court house, I went through a security screening and arrived at a large waiting area with many other potential jurors. The wait could take a while, but not long after I was called into a court room. I can see the defendant, the defense attorney, the plaintiff, several sheriffs, and later the judge, who described the procedure including the principles of jury service, the time line, and the jury selection process.

The potential jurors were then called into the jury sitting area in groups, being questions by the judge and the attorneys, and either being selected or dismissed at the end of each round. The process continued until enough jury (and backup) members were selected. In this case, it took a full day and then spilled over a little bit into the next morning.

On one hand, the process could be run more efficiently, as the attorneys were repeating the same points with individual jury candidates. On the other hand, I can understand why the attorneys would want to do so, as it is a good way to test the jury candidates’ understanding of the rules and their ability to follow the process. I also found such civil engagement helpful for improving the trust in the judiciary system.

The most interesting part was hearing the answers from the jury candidates about their background, their understanding of the rules, and their ability and inability to follow the process. (Some seemed intent to be dismissed.)

As someone who has spent a whole career as a research scientist, I can see some similarities and differences between the jury service and paper reviews and committee meetings.

Similarities:

Differences:

• The paper authors could not be present and defend their work in a paper committee meeting, unlike during a trial.
• The stakes are much higher in a trial, as it is deciding the fate of a person instead of just a paper.
• The trial focuses on (mostly) one defendant while a paper committee evaluates many submissions.
• The jury service is mandatory, while a paper committee service is voluntary.
• No food or drink (except water) inside a court room, while a paper committee meeting is usually accompanied by food and drinks (often too much calories/sugar in my experience).

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