My Day In Court as a Juror in Clackamas County
I woke yesterday morning feeling a mixture of excited nervousness. This was not only my first time going through the jury duty process...but also the first time I'd ever be in a courtroom. Oh..I've seen my share of court shows, but I also know they are TV...so was really interested in the real thing.
If you're called to serve jury duty in Clackamas county, you'll recieve notice in the mail. After calling the night before to see if my number was called, I was on my way to Oregon City where the Courthouse is. It was fun (not)trying to find parking, so I'd highly recommend that you just go to the lot on the corner of 12th & Main in Oregon City, and pay the $5 for five hours. Once they get things going, you have little time to do much...especially move your car.
There were 30 of us that were called to serve in the Jury Assembly Room...two buildings away from the actual Courthouse. After putting a "Juror" pin on, filling out forms, watching a video of the process, the clerk of the court (think that's her title) came in and had us line up in numerical order. I was instantly brought back to those days in kindergarten when my teacher had us all line up and put a finger over our mouths. Thankfully, the clerk didn't have us do that.
We were then led single file from the Ralph M. Holman Building to the courthouse where we then had to go through airport like security..down to having to take a sip of the open water bottle. I honestly thought I would have plenty of time waiting where I could use my computer, but this wasn't the case..so I needed to leave my computer bag and camera in the Jury Assembly Room. My advice, go in light with just your phone and minimal stuff.
Taken into a small courtroom, the judge and attorneys all gave us the skinny, we were sworn in and then we went around the room each giving our name, county and city where we live, our occupation, our significant others occupation and hobbies. After doing this the attorneys asked questions of several people and then we were taken to another room to wait while they chose the jurors.
Being a criminal case, I was chosen to be one of 12 jurors instead of 6 jurors if 
it's a civil trial. I had to smile at how times have changed and the judge had to add about 10 minutes of instructions about not using ANY form of social media, checking google, blogging, tweeting and in general not mentioning ANYTHING about the case to anyone.
I sat and listened to the testimony of three witnessess and the attorneys pleading their case. What I honestly didn't expect was for that feeling of how my decision would change the life of the defendant. It hits you that you really have to ignore all the hoopla of the attorneys and just take in the facts and evidence.
After listening to the closing statements, we were then sent back into a room (well...during the process we were sent back into the room several times because of something unkown to us)..and asked to come back with our decision. We needed 10 of the 12 jurors to agree. In our case, the defense had nothing and the state produced valid evidence and witnesses. There were no heavy scenes like the in 12 Angry Men, we all simply looked over the evidence, gave our take on it and then we went around the table and voted. It felt harsh to say the words guilty, and the word didn't come out easily. It's actually harder to go back into the courtroom and watch the defendant as they hear that word as well.
I know it's easy to just want to put this process off because there is always something you have to do. I've done that as well. I'm glad however that I finally went. I felt the importance of it and was honored to be part of the judicial system that gives us the right to be judged by our peers.
Oh..and an interesting aside that the judge told us. When we are asked to rise everytime she came in, we are not asked to rise because of the judge. We are all rising because of the flag. I didn't know this!
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33 Comments on My Day In Court as a Juror in Clackamas County
Hi Cindy,
I know sometimes it seems a like a real pain to be called to jury duty, but actually I believe it is an honor even though it is random. It is how this country was meant to work in this respect. The last time I was on they picked me for the Grand Jury. That was really interesting except that I was on for six weeks. Good thing I was not working at the time. I also did not know that you rise for the flag and not the Judge coming into the courtroom. Thanks for such a good blog.
Hi Bill, once I knew you had to go, I decided that I might as well get into it. When there, you do realize that it's really not something to take lightly. I thought that flag tidbit was interesting as well.
Hi Will, wow, that's a lot of jurors to assemble! After going around the room and listening to what people did..or their experiences, I knew instantly that some of them wouldn't get chosen based on the nature of the case. Robbed at gunpoint? Now that is an experience I really never what to have!!! Glad you're alive to tell the tale!
Jury duty is always an interesting adventure. The last time I was summoned for jury duty, I waited in the jury pool room all day, but wasn't called. Then around 4:00 pm when it was about time to leave for the day, the courthouse was locked down for awhile, because they lost track of one of the inmates. . .LOL Ya gotta just love it!
Hi Carla, I did think of you while sitting there. A different kind of thing with the jury, but remembering that you had your day in court and it was on TV! Nope..no hoopla, in fact the only hoopla was when all the jurors were walking through the courthouse heading single file to the courtroom and the clerk said loudly " Clear the way..jurors coming through". Nothing like having all eyes on you.
Hi Jill, I agree, I probably wouldn't be feeling the same if I was sequestered..or was on a grand jury. At that point, you just have to go with it. Not much you can do unless you have some real health issues to asked to be excused. I wonder if they do that mid trial.
Hi Gretchen, For some reason, I knew I was going to be picked to be on the jury...just one of those things. Now I don't think I can be on one for another two years..I'll have to check into that though. It must be a bit frustrating when you go through all the stuff and aren't picked. I really thought this one was going to go that way as well.
This explains why there was NO where is it Wednesday game.
Hi Mike, It is kinda interesting to watch them question certain people that might obviously have a bias because of what they do for a living, or by a relation or friendship to a certain person. It all seems..at least it did with me that they tried to make the questioning seem as informal as it could be to put everyone at ease.
Hi Joy, I know a lot of my nervousness was due to the unknown. Like you I hadn't served before nor have been in a courtroom. I figure I'd put it out there as to what my experience was like so it takes away a bit of the unknown.
Hi Mary, yeah...a grand jury might be a bit much..especially if your busy with work..but there is always that risk of it going that way. You have to have someone covering for you during that time. It was fortunate that you weren't working at the time.
Hi Myrl, that's kinda how I thought it would go as well...lots of waiting around where I would be able to just pop on my computer and do some work. We never really did have lots of waiting time between being moved from one place...or room to another, bathroom lines and such. Now that would have been a bit nerve wracking having an inmate loose!
Hi Rob..that was the first time missing a Where is it Wednesday in a long time. I did it once before when I totally thought it was a different day then Wednesday. I actually had all intentions of using the courthouse as the picture. I even had my post all ready and saved in draft. My thought was to get down there early, take a picture, head to the room and upload to my computer and post. Well....since I thought a parking spot on Main street was good since I didn't see any meters nearby I had to run out and move my car when the lady announced they are ALL metered on Main St...and for only 2 hours. I figure I didn't need a parking ticket. I didn't have another opportunity to get on my computer again...so..ya know how it goes with the best laid plans.
Hi Cindy, great story about your experience. Did all this happen in just one day? If it did, that is some speedy trial!
Cindy -- it appears the Oregon system is a lot more efficient than the California courts I have served as a juror(three times) --- all wrapped up in one day -- impressive.
Too bad it wasn't Lindsay Lohan. .
Hi Cindy, This is a great post for those who have never served on a jury before. Sounds like it was a positive experience for you. I am a retired court reporter so am very familiar with this process.
HI Cindy,
Pfanntastic Post and Experience, and I must admit, I am looking forward to one day be asked to serve on a Jury, as I consider it a privilege of our society to be part of that process.
Your rendition of the experience was really well done thank you.
Fascinating stuff Cindy... I loved the blow by blow detail in your post. I've never been called to serve, but I think I would enjoy it. And I didn't know about rising for the flag either... very interesting!
Cindy, I have served on a jury one time and it was a criminal case and we found the defendant guilty as well. It wasn't a comfortable feeling, but it was the truth according to the evidence. Congratulations on being a good citizen :)
Sharon
Congrats on the feature and on doing your civic duty! Sounds like a very interesting experience. I have not had the opportunity yet to sit on a jury. Thanks for sharing your experience and have a great week.
Hi Cindy. I Served on a jury twice so far and it was not a good experience. It was a huge wake up call to the brutal realities of our justice system. I did not like it but I would do it again as my civic duty :)
Cindy:
I served as a juror once. I was surprised I was kept on the jury because my husband is an attorney. The case I heard was a criminal matter and my husband is an estate planning, probate, trust and Medi-Cal attorney. The trial lasted a full week and was difficult to decide because of all the conflicting evidence. It was am interesting experience for me and if called I would be willing to serve again.
Hi Sandy, thankfully it did happen in one day..got there at 8AM and we were able to leave at 4:30.
Hi Michael, It might have been because the defense really didn't have much of a case.
Hi Fernando, now that would have been an interesting jury to be on!
Hi Elyse, it actually was interesting for me to see how this process works first hand. I bet you've heard some doozies over time!
Hi Peter and Linda, thank you. When you get called and go through it, you do realize that it's an honor..and something that one should try to avoid. Of course this is hard when you always hear people being so negative about having to go. I was glad that I served and will gladly serve again.
Hi Mel, oh, I have a feeling you would embrace it. I found that when the reality of how my decision would affect this person hit me, I was very attuned to what I needed to hear and see.
Hi Sharon, that was the hardest part really, even though like you said , the truth of the evidence said guilty.
Hi Laurie, when you get called, embrace it and I bet you'll find the experience interesting as well.
Hi Lana, I guess it's the roll of the dice on what kind of jury you'll sit on and the case you'll hear. Sounds like yours were difficult.
Hi Evelyn, I guess they figured you would know the gig and be as impartial as possible being married to an attorney. I can see how it would be pretty hard if you have that conflicting evidence. It was hard enough when there was no evidence for the defense.
Well, you could have fooled me that we were rising because of the flag. So do we have the option to stay seated if we wanted to like we would at the ballpark? I've only been to jury duty once -- for a rape trial -- I got excused due to a previously scheduled doctor's appointment the next day. It would have been interesting to see how the trial turned out, but the way things go in court these days it was obvious the defendant's fate was going to be guilty until proven innocent, instead of the other way around.