I got summoned for jury duty (and fortunately noticed the plain unassuming letter). You'd think a letter that must be noticed on pain of criminal charges would be a little more attention-grabbing then all the f*cking spam.
But I did see it, and read the instructions. I was to call a certain number the night before AFTER 5:30PM for further instructions and to see if I was still needed. So... is it online due to covid? No such indication, or much indication at all. Just that I was summoned to appear at 9:30AM. There's an "INSTRUCTIONS FOR JURORS" section but it's literally only ways to excuse oneself.
So I waited until tonight at 5:30PM and called the automated system to see whether I was still summoned at 9:30 AM tomorrow. The summons has three helpful numbers, a Badge Number, a Juror Number, and a PIN Number. Yes, "PIN Number". it's such a little thing, but when they're threatening me with law-enforcement for inaction I don't feel CHARITABLE.
The system asked me for my badge number and then, for "security purposes", my PIN Number. They're both 6 digits which made the whole thing all the more laughable. Security is when you mail someone two numbers instead of one, right? Jesus, I'm surprised they didn't ask me to "prove" my identity with my Social Security Number, that cognitosigil which nobody else can retain. No, no, just the second number was enough to prove my identity.
And to confirm it slowly repeated my badge number, and then a clip of my (legal) name, fair enough I guess but - ah, I am, indeed, needed tomorrow at 8:30AM. What a whole rigamarole for
wait
Yeah, 8:30 not 9:30.
I pressed for further "juror instructions" and got "Look presentable", and then they went into detail - No actually they just said DON'T WEAR SHORTS, and to wear layers because the room's climate will be unpredictable.
So now I have to decide. Do I show up in my raincoat, safari-hat, and my nice long khakis with detachable leggings?
Or do I do my best impression of a white cismale going for a job interview? Because I would love to sneak onto a jury-
No, that's wrong, I have a *right* and *responsibility* to be on a jury and be a voice for reasonable doubt. Naturally they couldn't tell me anything at all about the case, so it could be anything, but this is an opportunity for me to do something good. I'm sure they'll see right through me and throw me out, but I owe it to my community to try.