It was not John Grisham's jury

     

A juror tapes photos to the wall during jury deliberations.

This is a jury summons, and badge.

    John Grisham wrote a legal thriller "The Runaway Jury" that also became a hit movie but that's not quite how the judicial process works in Scott County, Iowa.

    I know this as I was recently chosen to be on a jury. It was a first-time experience.

   While it's not as dramatic as Grisham offers, it remains a fascinating process and quite simpler than might be imagined. I received the jury summons back in the spring but was out of town on the appointed day. The summons was thus delayed to the third week of August.

    For this, I received several notices though e-mail and text messages. I arrived at the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport at the appointed time, carting along books, magazines and other items to keep me occupied for hours if necessary.

    More than 150 prospective jurors started the day in a large room; each of us had a number. Attendance was taken twice, by two different court employees. After some time passed, I and several others were  assigned to go to a second courtroom. 

    We filed into the new courtroom and filled up the jury box and beyond. We looked at each other but didn't speak, waiting for directions. The presiding judge entered the room.

    A prosecuting lawyer from the Scott County Attorney's office eventually explained the pending case. It involved property damage to a vehicle; the plaintiff and defendant knew each other and had once been a couple, a baby was born from the relationship.

    The lawyer asked if anyone knew the folks involved and some did. These prospects were questioned individually. One person met in the hallway with the judge and lawyer to explain himself in private.

    Finally, the lawyer announced who would be part of the actual jury. My name was the fourth one called. 

    In all, 13 people were picked; one would be an alternate. Alternates take part in the trial but are excused before final deliberations began.

    The defendant, who was represented by a defense attorney, faced two charges. She admitted guilt to the first misdemeanor charge but strongly denied the second felony charge.

    We, the jury, listened to the plaintiff testify and then were released for a long lunch hour. We came back at the time named by the judge, and listened to two more witnesses. The defendant testified to end the day, and we were dismissed by the judge but ordered to return the second day.

    The second day we went immediately to the jury room next to the assigned courtroom and then heard final arguments from each attorney. Our alternate jury member was identified and he was excused. (It turns out he could make his first class at Scott Community College after all!).

    It looked like our day might last a while, so the county offered to buy us lunch. We made lunch choices during one of the early breaks.

    But it wasn't long before the trail wrapped up and we went back to the jury room to deliberate (just like the movies!). It took a relatively long time to find agreement on the first charge but not long at all to agree on the second, more serious charge. 

    We made our decision and the jury foreman we'd elected notified the court assistant. She subsequently alerted the parties involved and we paraded back to the courtroom.

    One charge was judged as guilty and one was innocent. The defendant cried at the news and we jurors filed back to the jury room. We felt good about the decision reached, and soon, our lunch would be delivered.

    The judge also stopped by to answer questions. He noted the trail was "lightening fast," but justice was served. The court staff efficiently gave everyone lunches in a container and we all were free to go home.

    Two days of jury duty and a check for $85 soon arrived at my home in rural Scott County. 

    Not bad pay, and it was super interesting for this juror!