Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
ny LAWRENCE W. ROGERS.
II FAVE Jury duty to the retired
rnerchantSr

Johnson, most a1laOIC uIuk
L. gist, who howls at the
scarcity of social justice. hurl'
ed this advice at me with defiant air
A summons to the Supreme Court
panel had been tucked under my door
stating plainly in conspicuous black
faced tvpe that failure to show up
would subject me 10 a fine of 500. ]
was perplexed and sought escape.
Give some doctor a couple of bucks
for a certificate saying you are sick and
can't serve" chuckied my nearest
neighbor.
Get a good lawyer and lick it, g."
adnnonished Sands, all around wiseacre.
~ have been hooked and gotten out
fron, under three times" he boosted.
Some politician coming up for re-
election can generally work the wires
and get you excused"
Alas I was registered on the wrong
side of the political fence. MY party
had been catapulted so far into OBLIVION
at the last election. so completely buried
in sweeping defeat, that 1t was still rub
hing its eyes and wondering now IL
happened.
Finally, I threw UP my hands and
decided 60 serve, and my panicky expe-
rin,ent proved a surprise. Some Of my
most petted notions Of the average citi-
zen's chance for square break" in
the courts received Q severe Jolt. And
instead of q diSagreeable task I sud-
denly found myself in the midst of an
all-compelling human drama, and was
a necessary part of the whole show!
Ny impressions upon entering a SUI
prenle Court for the first time ct the
call Of jury duty were panoramic
scramble of unanticipated sights and
experiences.
Jurors seemed to gather earliest
heterogeneous crowd of 80 or 90 men
Of various ages. races and types. There
were professional men, business men.
sales clerks, shop workers, all answer
ing the call with the same curious looks
on their faces. particularly II they ha6
never done jury duty before.
Some had served before and appeared
anxious to show the newcomers a thing
or two. Il always serve" explained
one of these gentlemen. Hard to
leave my work, but no use 10 make q
fuss about it. You are better of in
the long run II YOU come and do your
duty
That's Just the way feel about IT,"
asserted another. And want some
one to do the same thing for me If
public don't get the right dope on this
thing. Most citizens look upon 1t as a
deteStahle ordeal-one that they should
duck whenever they can"
You'd think, to hear some OF them
talk" impatiently echoed q third. that
Jury duty is worse than q term In jail.
To make an honest confession, once
had the same ideal"
The venerable court clerk suddenly
appeared TO call the roll. Those of
YOU who want TO get excused" he an
nounced. with significant wit, Il want
TO tip you OF what lies not TO tell the
5udge!" We all laughed.
BE sure to state the facts about your
previous jury records" he continued,
EaS have them in my pocket, and 1t
mans record after he has told some
fake story TO the Judge in the hope of
getting excused.
And. above ali. don't do as one man
did. He brought me doctors c. tin
cate, saying that he (the Juror would
have to stay in bed for three weeksl"
As the clock approached the hour for
"A court I had q feeling of icaad
mingled with anxiety as to whA was
to follow, that put my nerves on edge.
I wondered what sets of troubles wpuld
be exposed. who had been hit and hurt,
damaged in body, pocketbook or imagi-
nation, whose dirty linen would be pub
iicly washed, wrung out. aired and hung |
Up to dry.
Men and women Of varied descriptions |
came struggling In, looking for their |
lawyers, witnesses or friends. Occa- |
xionaIly there was an attorney with |
maturity Of bearing and parts true TO |
tradition. A larger group sized up In |
the Jurors perspective as Of the every-
day, serious-minded, plugging sort, who.
after all, do much OF the worlds work
IN any line Of endeavcr. A few were
undoubtedly fun Of the self-intoxicating
ponp and egotism and hluff.
Suddenly the Judge arrived. Every
body jumped to his feet and the court
crier called out something more that
nobody could understand.
The first case offered some exciting
SAINTS on the universal problem OF how
% get rich. II was an action Tor raise
arrest. brought by real estate salesman
AGAINST his former employer. During