One in Twelve

My Monday was spent in downtown San Diego serving as a juror. Rather my civic duty required me to serve as a potential juror, as I was never selected to be a juror and was dismissed from the panel at around 4pm.

While pacing the jury pool room in boredom I noticed they really did have a complete cross section of the SD population. I don't think there was any race, religion or socio-economic class not represented.

The case dealt with child molestation. Great, just want I want to sit and listen to for possibly days on end. But if it was me, and I'm innocent of something nasty I would want good jurors. So I kept and open mind and listened.

Initially I was not selected for the first 21. (one of the questions dealt with your experiences dealing with police officers. i think 75% of the 40 people in my selection panel had DUIs!) After the first wave of dismissals I was an alternate and then bumped up to being "#2". (i guess they really do know me!!)

Sample Questions:
What is your occupation and educational background?
Are any of your friends in law enforcement?
What has been your personal experience with law enforcement officers? (here is where the whole room confessed their DUI fondness)
Have you ever served in the military?
Do you have any children?
Do you know of anyone who has been a victem of molestation or been accused of molestation?
I answered all of them truthfully and plainly with nothing extra, no embellishment or wandering confusion of "umm" or "I don't know" or "gee".

Almost as soon as the new group I was in was finished being questioned I was dismissed. I wasn't asked any follow up questions or made to clarify anything as almost all of the other potential jurors who were eventually dismissed had, nothing. There has to be an art to jury selection and I really would like to know what it was about me that would cause me to be instantly dismissed......?