Jury Duty

I've been called for Jury Duty every so many years ever since the early 1970's. At first I was able to get out of it because "I am a woman" and a new mother so didn't have to serve. Then the kids got older and being a woman wasn't an excuse any longer and I thought maybe serving on a jury would be interesting. Everytime I was called, I never had to appear as my number was too high so I was never needed. There was the one time I had to appear in Marilla Town Court for a criminal matter, but with only a 6 person jury needed, I didn't make the cut. I was called once for supreme court which I think would have been really interesting, but ended up never having to show up then either. So the other day I pick up my mail and there is another notice to appear and this time my number is pretty low. Monday I drove into downtown Buffalo, parked in a parking ramp and walked over to the court which wasn't open yet. It really didn't take me long to get into the city at all. I guess that also speaks to how few people head into Buffalo these days. First they called people for civil court and I wasn't selected. Then they called for a criminal trial and I wasn't called. Another criminal trial was called for Judge Penny Wolfgang and I thought, now there's a trial I would like to see as I have seen Judge Wolfgang on TV a number of times, but I wasn't called. Then another couple of groups were called and they were dismissed. We should have been the next group, but we were told to go to lunch and be back by 1:45PM. I stayed there reading my book and listening to music. Everyone came back and then suddenly they called another group. I figured my time was over, it was time to head for home. 36 of us gathered in one room and we were told we were to report the next day at 9AM as Judge Wolfgang needed more jurors. I can't say I was disappointed, maybe I would finally get to serve and in a court that should be interesting. The next day our group of 36 showed up again along with some of the jurors chosen the day before. About 10AM they made the announcement that we could go home as the defendent has taken a plea deal so they no longer needed us. I called Bev and we went to lunch and a few minutes of shopping then I went back to work at school. That night I had the news on and heard a report about a criminal taking a plea deal early that morning and realized it was the case I would have been going too. Turned out to be a 1st degree murder case of a man who broke into an older lady's home and killed her with a screwdriver and hammer. WOW, what a case that could have been! Here is the link to an article in the Buffalo News about the case http://buffalonews.com/editorial/20060920/9038646.asp

So now I don't have to serve for another 8 years. At least I came close this time.