Wednesday, May 25, 2011

RP7


Service [sur-vis] noun 1. an act of helpful activity.

This is what my letter had asked of me. Other than voting, many Americans do not have interaction with the greater structures of government. I was excited to show up Monday morning at 9, so I arrived a full half hour early. There were 32 in our Jury pool. We watched a video explaining Judicial divisions and simple expectations of us.

We headed across the street to the Historic Old Courthouse of Hillsborough, and were escorted upstairs to a grand well aged courtroom. 12 jurists were selected at random by the clerk from a stack of cards on her desk. So began the 3.5 hour selection process. I was the second to last person to be selected. The defense attorney made only on inquiry to me. "Mr. Hill how do you keep yourself looking so young? I began writing down student before I heard you say you worked at UNC for 18 years and had an 18 yr. old." I told him "exercise, a well balanced diet and lowering stress." With that I was in and we went to lunch.

This was not a headline news case. There were no paparazzi awaiting us outside, no hordes of reporters at the steps or even thoughts of a book deal about my experiences. (Now that I think of it.) I had become Reasonable person #7. RP7 was to be clear of judgment and analytical of facts.
This was like high school drama, awkward at best. I hoped RP7 would be clear of me. At the end of day 1 the Plaintiffs side had rested it's case. Several instructions on communication about the case from the judge we were released for the night.

We meet at the Jury room in the new courthouse and then escorted back to the Old courthouse. The Judge gave us some instructions about what today would hold on allowed the case to continue. The defense stood up and made it clear to the court they were not providing any evidence. On to closing arguments. After closing arguments the judge read us the law in which we were to answer our 2 questions on. Queation1: By the greater weight of the evidence to you the jury find blah-law-blah-law...Yes/ No. Question 2: If answer to Q1 was yes then the amount of $____.00 shall be paid to the plaintiff. The law read for 3 pages and seemed reasonable to understand.

12 random people, 2 questions, one a check box and the other a $ amount. We deliberated for 5.5 hours before returning a verdict.

My RP7 experience allowed me to realize how much I truly do value my fellow human. I am no different from you, you or you over there. I gives me hope that 12 RP can come to a consensus even if it meant bending far from ourselves to do so. I also learned that we as a people will meet the challenges ahead of us. Debate, listen ,construct and engagement are the foundry of our society. Truth and evil are a personal involvement whereas it is human to respect.

I have a more significant resolve that I live in one of the greatest countries to date. Our government has continuously evolved allowing more acceptance and respect to be freely shared equally among those who live here. It is service that renders me into the greater US.

Peace and many thanks, Harold