I was called to jury duty recently. That was my third subpoena, but it was my first time at the ancient Miami Dade County Courthouse building at 71 Flagler Street downtown Miami. I was curious to know how the court would handle the situation in this Covid epidemic atmosphere. The two entrances were opened as usual to the public - one on Flagler Street and the other on NW 1st Avenue. Items were scanned upon entry and body scans could be done if there was a beep going through the metal detector. All were expected to wear masks. But, there were no temperature checks so anyone with a fever or Covid could have easily entered this old, crowded building.
It appears that instead of calling numbers in a room packed with all receiving subpoenas, it is now predetermined the day and courtroom for persons to show up. Approximately 24 of us potential jurists waited outside the assigned courtroom. However, it was disappointing that we were expected to get to the courthouse at 8:00 AM, but the bailiff did not usher us into the courtroom until past 9:30 AM at which time the attorneys for the civil case seemed unprepared on Monday morning. The judge began the questioning close to 10:00 AM to begin the process for the civil case instead of us having to wait on unprepared attorneys in the packed small courtroom with a huge column blocking the view for all at every angle.
The judge made the grand usual speech on our expectations as citizens to serve on a jury and that excuses not to serve would go against the perceptions of being a U.S. citizen. But, her utterance of $8 per day was a bit startling and a slap in the face to me. Now, $15 a day at Miami Dade County's criminal court seemed outrageous when I was called to jury duty there some years ago. So $8 for service at this courthouse seemed beyond outrageous. Actually, it is downright inconsiderate and disrespectful! Clearly, the court has no sympathy or consideration for those workers and others who will not be paid for taking a day off for jury duty. So, federal judges with their six-figure salaries cannot dictate to others about the nobleness of serving on a jury when they will never experience the financial hardships of taking off even one day from work. This lack of respect for my time gives me the impetus of not considering jury duty as an honor.
A quite capable white Anglo woman was convincing in the judge's eyes, so she was released prior to the voir dire. However, others were not so lucky! Such sympathies were not extended to the issues of two minority potential jurists. Understanding the lawyers' questions or not, the judge spitefully kept them right up until the end of jury selection. Nevertheless, I and others dismissed were happily relieved that we would not have to return to the antiquated Miami Dade County Courthouse at 71 Flagler Street for another non-productive, unpaid day.
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