PelhamToday received the following reader letter regarding being called to jury duty:
It all starts out simple with that government letter arriving in the mail to fill out and the proper information for possible selection as a juror. Immediately, this sends out warning signals to the selected individual, whether they are proud to be selected or whether they dread the idea of being selected.
Although it is a requirement by law to fill this form out properly and then mail it out properly it is already being scrutinized. Ignoring it or throwing it away or filling out the wrong information is already on the person’s mind. Most individuals will do what is right and mail off their form. I believe once done most will hope this is the end of their duty and go back to their regular routines of life. Months go by without another thought of this paper form returned to the Ministry. Then it happens! You open up the next letter and receive notice you must attend court for jury selection. This is when the next group of individuals panic.
You inform those you know you have received your next letter for possible jury selection. Everyone tells you a different version of when they received their dreaded letter. Oh, don’t worry, you probably won’t get picked as a juror. Or others will start telling you ways to get out of it, but by this time you am sure the government with their massive intel and computers have already begun the process of analyzing and categorizing your personality.
Now comes your own preparation if you are selected. Financially this is your first thought, for in Ontario for the first 10 days you get no jury duty pay. After 11 days it is only $45 per day.
Panic sets in with the majority of people, but as a law-abiding citizen you still proceed forward in your preparations, trying to pay bills in advance and warning others you will soon not be in communications with them. How long is the question, your life will be turned topsy turvy and yet you still don’t know if you will be selected as a juror.
Myself, I have already turned off my personal cellphone and have not been online for over a week already. I have my business phone to use for work, but on the day I attend for selection this too will be turned off. Most folks don’t even have a landline anymore opting for using only a cellphone. My wife always kept our landline to communicate with family and friends but when she couldn’t reach the kids with a voice message then I got a cellphone and learned how to text so we could get a response.
Although, my wife passed away almost three years ago, I still keep my landline though rarely used. But now if anyone wants to leave me a message when I attend the courthouse in Welland, they can call up and leave a verbal message. Both cellphones will be turned off and if selected for jury duty and it is a major case, then at least they have the comfort of leaving a message. If the jurors are sequestered, it will go unanswered because of the ban on communication from the outside world and global communication. For a certain time, the old British law of the court will be abided by and thus my life is on hold.
Ian Cummings
Pelham
