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When I got out of the USN, I was called for Jury Duty in my blue state once every three years on the nose. (three years was the minimum interval here)

Finally, after the fifth time, I had enough. I wrote a strongly worded letter to the Commissioner of Juries for the state, and never got called again after that.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to fulfill my duties as a citizen. I was irritated as hell that so many people I knew never, ever got called.

The last one I went to, I admit I acted like a child. I filled out the juror form so illegibly that the guy running it called me out of the group of dozens to re-do the form.

Then, when I was seated in the court listening to the potential case I might be assigned to (two guys who the State Police had pulled over and found unregistered weapons in their vehicle) Judge asked if anyone had any reason they could not impartially sit on a jury.

With no hesitation, my hand shot up. They called me up to the front with the judge, the DA, and the defense attorney (in front of all these people-this was the Cambridge District Court in MA) and the judge asked me why I felt I could not be impartial.

I told them that I simply did not trust the police and thought they planted the weapons. (I didn’t really believe this, but I was just flat out pissed)

I glanced over at the Defense attorney, and he was eyeing me and stroking his chin. It was pretty clear he was trying to formulate some way to get me on the jury.

The Judge said “If you cannot sit impartially, you may go home, but we will call you back again tomorrow.”

I said instantly that I could be impartial and agreed to be serve impartially for a jury were I selected.

They didn’t select me, and that was the last time I went for Jury duty. That was back in 1995, never got another Jury Duty notice.