Civic Duty

I had the pleasure of spending the last two days serving Jury Duty here in the great city of New York and boy what an amazing experience. The summons came in the mail weeks ago, I was happy to ignore it until this past Sunday when I realized that my day was Thursday 1/8. I was a ball of nerves Wednesday night and could barely sleep because I didn’t know what the next day would bring. I informed my boss and was off early on Thursday morning to report to the Supreme Court of NY County – 111 Centre St – a place I will not soon forget. After the mandatory medal detection and the realization that I had a camera in my bag, I was up to room 362 to sit and wait w/ 300 of my newest friends. I was pleasantly surprised about the comfort of the room, a cross between a high school auditorium and a hospital waiting room. The orange wood paneling thick on the walls, half stocked and unreliable vending machines up front but a couple new touches – comfy seats, a flat screen TV (playing a video of Diane Sawyer discussing the importance of Jury Duty, what to expect etc.) and surprisingly clean bathrooms. I took a seat in the front for orientation.
The ringleader of this operation was a very firm but friendly African American lady. We were all here but she was definitely in charge. A poor old Asian guy was up front and she announced, “This is my desk SIR” with a big smile and a bit of laughter from the room. She gave instructions and made a few jokes about what we were doing, what forms we need to fill out and where to find the nearest Starbucks if we got a break (walk out any door, in any direction and you will find a Starbucks). After role call, we wait. I was happy to wait, read my book and a bit of the Times and keep up with work email on the Blackberry. The Jury Pool was perfect cross section of the city - Black, White, Asian, Latino, Indian, young, old, thugs, union guys, hipsters, yarmulkes, moms, fasionistas and slobs. My name finally came up (how exciting) and about 80 of us went upstairs (and from what I know now, you don’t want to go upstairs) we waited briefly and were told to go back down to 362. Some experienced jurors (and there are plenty of them) speculated that “they must have settled, it happens sometimes.” Back down in 362 we waited until our leader told us that we could break for lunch. This was an early break ~12:45, the pool was ecstatic and told to be back at 2pm sharp for roll call. 5 dollar, 5 dollar, 5 dollar footlooong. Back to the waiting game.
A couple small calls, a few were told to go to the back rooms for civil court, my name doesn’t come up until another big call, 40 jurors up to the 6th floor. Upstairs is the criminal court and this time we made it into the courtroom. We were greeted by a friendly looking judge, an older gentleman, taller version of Ed Harris with hair who gave us the run down. Upfront was the court reporter, Assistant DA (schmuck), defendant and counsel, couple cops all here to witness the courtroom drama. The defendant had been charged w/ 2nd degree murder. WHAT did I hear that right? HEART DROPS WTF AM I DOING HERE WHOLLLY SHIT I CAN FEEL MYSELF SWALLOW IMMEDIATELY I GET CLAMMY PANIC ATTACK LEAVE NOW LEAVE NOW LEAVE NOW. Murder2 and possession of a weapon and the judge asks all of us who were sitting in the back pews, “does anyone have a problem with that?” OF COURSE I DO! Several hands go up, “I was robbed at gunpoint” one juror proclaims, the judge asks, “and it would be hard to separate your crime and the crime of the defendant?” juror, “yes” judge “excused”, “I too was robbed at gunpoint” excused, “I too was robbed at gunpoint” excused (SHIT! how many people have been robbed at gunpoint in a random selection of your peers?), “I was raped by an assailant with a gun” excused, jesus. The judge again, the crime happened on 122&Lex and you cant go there if you are a juror, “does anyone have a problem avoiding that intersection?” “my childs daycare” excused, “I live 2 blocks from there” although w/ some hesitation/argument w/ the judge “I walk by there to go to the train”, excused. Judge, “scheduling” if you were chosen to serve on this jury you will be here Monday morning and the trial could take a week. “something something job, sole proprietor” excused, “doctor on call” excused (works twice by the way), couple others and I’m sitting there thinking, think of something anything WTF, someone tries “I was planning on going to DC for the inauguration” sorry buddy, nice try, judge saw that coming you’re staying. Come on! Think of something Sandler, quick, anything! BUT I couldn’t , I couldn’t even remember what I was doing that night and I had a huge lump in my throat paralyzed by nervousness. Now there are about 20-25 of us left and all of our names go into the lotto style spinning ball thing to decide our fate and whether we go on. One down, two down, five down and then “Tyler blahblahblah” (OH THANK GOD NOT ME SOME OTHER TYLER, poor sap), ten down and then it happens “Tyler Sandler Juror number 12.”
12 of 20 and they need 7 of us. I blackout, gather my thoughts and jacket and stumble thru the courtroom to the front. Schmuck DA gives me a smile, I can tell already he wants my vote. So then the judge asks a series of questions to all of us – where we live, do we live alone, occupation, education level, clubs/organization and what we do outside of work. It comes to my turn and I could barely speak, “UWS, live w/ my fiancé, sales, golf” and your education level Mr Sandler? Could have been a trick question, I don’t know what my response was, god I have never been this nervous in my life. I feel like I’m on trial, flashbacks to Prince William County park fiasco Pensacola National Traveler “camping.” Then come the serious questions...everyone understands, Innocent until proven guilty? Yes. Do you know any cops? No…but I now know I need to meet some. Do you have any prejudice against police officers? Sometimes but it’s usually the person not the badge and I’m way too nervous to speak up. Do you understand that the defendant and victim both might take the stand and the victim has a criminal record himself…do you understand the oath they must take? Of course dude but perjury happens all the time, criminals, cops, US Senators have all been charge w/ perjury, I don’t say anything. Has anyone been convicted of a crime? OH THANK GOD, YES!!!! I’VE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME!!! My hand goes up and I have never been soooo happy about my rap sheet or the fact that the Sandlers can’t go to “Canada.” Here’s your chance, embellish, go nuts GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE ALREADY. Criminal mischief, possession and there was this one time. …….Ok, I think that went well, sorry DA, I’m not your man stop smiling at me. I said…”I don’t think I could stand fair judgment on the defendant because I have been in his seat before.” Man, that was embarrassing, am I a criminal? dude in front of me gave me a weird look, “ah yeah, you look like a pothead.” African guy shifted awkwardly in his seat several times but I think it worked and I didn’t say another word in court.
We go outside and wait our fate. 10 minutes pass, I suck at brickbreaker, 20 minutes pass and they call us back in. I walked in towards the front of the group and I go to the pew, “no sir” says the cop, up to the Juror’s booth. WTF!!?! I have to go back up there? I almost said no.
Judge tall Ed Harris thanks us and says that they have made their decision. If you hear your name you stay, if not, back down to 362. “Tyler”… “Tyler blahblablahblah” JESUS I FORGOT THAT DUDE WAS IN HERE!!! Close but I wasn’t chosen.
I had one of the most introspective ride homes on the train that night. I had just witnessed the Human experience very closely in this fine city. Who am I to decide another man’s fate? I can’t do that. There is too much wrong with this city, our criminal justice system and the socioeconomic realities of some citizens of this city. Will he go to jail for a really long time? What happens when he gets out? What about the defendants family? The victim’s family? They will all probably be in court, does this mean I can’t go to Harlem anymore? Does anyone on this train know what I just went thru?

The Jury Pool is ready on day two, everyone is prepared - Laptops, iPods, PSP, bottles of water and lots of newspapers. I had to catch up at work and had a phone interview so the morning flew by. I even made a Jury Duty buddy, she was nice was a special needs teacher in the BX who sat next to me the first morning. A few young brothers made fast friends and I overheard a great debate on who was the best rapper of all time (Biggie) and who was better Kobe or LeBron (tbd). In the back room, where I sit now, you can eat and some old ladies are holding their own court on the big table in the middle. They are chatting, knitting, sipping tea, sharing the Style section, happily enjoying each other’s company and joking about our civic duty. About 3:45 our fearless leader gets on the microphone to tell us the good news, we can all go home after we get our certificate for serving. My name is called, grab my certificate - See you in 6yrs suckas!
If you get called for Jury Duty, I encourage you to go. It was an interesting way to spend a few days. I realized that I am often a passive participant in my community (like this blog) and I feel proud to have performed an essential civic duty (or maybe just a rite of passage in NYC). I don’t think that I can pass judgment against a stranger in a courtroom and I am unfit to be a juror but at least I know that now.