Brief Jury Duty Scuttles Long-Time Dream

Volume 5, Issue No. 25

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of Romar Media Canada, The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

 

Our latest as of Thursday, February 1, 2024 

~ Serving on a jury is a dream come true for me. Almost. Yesterday, the thought of being a juror deciding on a case before a court of law seemed to be on grasp. Fifty-seven citizens, including this writer, answered the call to do an important civic duty. We were briefed via a pre-recorded video. Then 10 minutes later, a staffer said: "thank you for your service, you're free to go". That was how my jury duty came to an end - brief, dull, unchallenging. 

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A DREAM COME TRUE, ALMOST

Serving On Jury An Important Civic Duty

It Was Brief and Unchallenging For This Writer

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"Some people try to get out of  jury duty by lying. You don't have to lie. Tell the judge the truth. Tell him you'd make a terrific juror because you can spot guilty people". - George Carlin 

TORONTO - From watching movies and reading books, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of how a jury works.

So when a Summons from the Sheriff's Office of the Ministry of the Attorney General came by mail weeks ago, I was enthusiastic I would be among those chosen to serve on a jury. It's a big honour.

For me, it's a dream come true. I had long wanted to participate in jury deliberations. As a journalist I've covered many court cases in the Philippines, the US and here in Canada, but being on the other side of the fence, meaning as a juror, is entirely new.

"You are being summoned for the purpose of jury selection in accordance with section 17 of the Juries Act," the Summons stated, and directed me to report to the Superior Court of Justice at 361 University Ave. on Wednesday, January 31 at 8:30 a.m.

I took notice of a side note in capital letters: "If you do not attend on the required date, you will be liable to the penalties provided by the Juries Act". Well, I thought this reminder was not needed insofar as it concerned me, I was going in good or foul weather. 

The excitement was overwhelming. Though I had gone to bed at the usual time, I could not manage a sleep; my mind was in the jury. In fact my preparation started as early 4:30 a.m., a good four hours before the appointed time.

I was at the subway station at 7 a.m. just as the rush hour had begun. Every train that passed the subway station was in full capacity. There was very little space to squeeze in. Anyway, the commute took nearly an hour. 

Somebody had previously told me selecting jurors was like a waiting game, so be prepared to hang on. Okay, so I brought a book and a notebook instead of the usual backpack containing three cameras, batteries, and notepad.

If being punctual was a virtue, not  everyone believed in it, obviously. The selection process was not the place to show it either. 

At 8:45, or 15 minutes past the designated time, the room on the fifth floor started to fill with potential jurors. Those already inside had eyes and ears glued to their phones and laptops. 

At 9, or half an hour into the waiting, a staff member broke the somber silence and turned on the huge computer monitor to show a pre-recorded video about the jury, which was mostly general information on what those selected should do if they were picked.

"Serving on the jury is one of the most important civic duties as citizens (18 years and older)," the video pitch stated. "The jury is the foundation of the legal system".

All 57 of us who got the Summons were intently watching and listening. It was creating awareness of the significant role juries play in administering justice.

About 800,000 people receive Summons each year to determine if they are eligible for jury duty, according to the Ontario jury website. Being summoned, however, does not mean one will be selected.

Well, lucky me, I thought. Imagine being one of those 800,000 to be handpicked to serve the community in a way I only dreamed about. In my youth, I wanted to be a lawyer, so being in a jury is about as close as I can get.

"Offenders are tried under fair circumstances," the video continued. "And jurors based their verdict on evidence".

With that final word, the 10-minute informational video ended. Seconds later, a staff came out to tell us that in the next two years, we would be spared the trouble of coming back again.

She explained that we will play no part in the 10 court trials scheduled for the year as members of the jury panel have been selected. That means we're released from such duty.

"On behalf of the Attorney General, we thank you very much," she said. "You're all free to go". Everybody gasped, surprised their anticipated duty had been that quick.

And there goes my dream service. Brief, not even to the more challenging, substantive part of being a juror. My excitement flew out of the window.

A little disappointed, I just walked to Eaton Centre to do some window shopping. An hour later, I strolled down Dundas St. to Chinatown for lunch. The meal was good, so good it took my mind off the aborted jury duty. (Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved).