Jury Pool Reflections

For the first time in my 44 years, I was called to jury duty. Before the official selction process began, Judge Michael Warren spoke to those assembled and gave an inspiring talk about what makes America great--the opportunity for a fair trial before a jury of peers. After orientation, my number was called first, but of the 20 in the group, I was not seated, so I returned to the big waiting room, asked for some paper and began writing my musings:

Jury Pool Reflections
Lori Wagner

Humanity assembles from all walks of life
Student, professional, salesman, housewife
Strangers connect to serve fellow man
Impartial, peer jury, law of our land

Numbers on badges fill the blank room
Gestating, waiting in liberty’s womb
Corralled, greeted, orientation
Civics, history, hope of a nation

Twenty rise, numbers scanned, line the hall
Proceed to the courtroom, answer the call
Fate, cause or preference: excused or seated
Amalgamate panel to find the mistreated

Number first called, not chosen, retreats
Through brown marble corridors, back to a seat
Hours pass amidst sleepers and readers
Knitters and sitters and solitaire players

Amplified words break the low drone
Some must stay, others go home
Past security, through doors, across parking lot
Free from the trial, captured in thought