Twelve Good Men and True
No Monday Morning Miracle this week, other than the miracle of not being selected for a jury yesterday on my first foray into the US legal system.
It was an interesting day that began with a head-scratch moment when the jury selection process was explained as the principle of 'Vodyre' (pronounced by all ... Vo Dyer) Investigation lead me to the true phrase, Voir Dire, clearly a French phrase whose meaning was far clearer than 'Vo Dyre'.
After getting put on a panel, from which 12 jurors would be selected, we then spent the day 'seeing' (Voir) and speaking (Dire) with the respective legal counsels until, several hours later, they chose their favourites and let the rest of us go home until the next time.
I suspect the case is going to be a long one so I was relieved to be let go.
The courts, in their generosity, pay $6.00 for the day which, when you take account of parking ($5.50), means that while I may have lost a day's wages, I did make fifty cents. On the principle of 'another day another dollar' I guess my day wasn't half bad.
On the plus side, invaluable research into the legal system was had for free and notes taken for future novelistic endeavours.
I haven't posted too much of late as I've been on a roll with 'Mirror Man' - just two chapters to complete the first draft then the editing begins in earnest.
Hope you're all doing well in the lead up to Christmas and if I haven't been by your blog lately don't worry, it's not you, it's me.
1 comment:
Interesting "Monday Miracle" post, Mike.
I have served on a couple of juries over the years, and was pleasantly surprised by my fellow jurors' seriousness about the responsibility. No one was anxious to agree on a verdict, "so we can go to lunch." I hope your experience, if you are ever called to serve, can be as positive.
Glad your writing is going well!
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