This is really a post for Pkin, but he won't write it. He had jury duty! Yippee! Your American right and responsibility. We have one of the few justice systems in the world where you have to be proved guilty rather than proved innocent. It's a far cry from dunking suspected witches in bodies of water.
We have one trial, one day service, and call-in service. You would have to call in for five days and then be excused if you they didn't bring you in to the court by the fifth day.
So he called on Sunday, Yippee! Don't report.
Then he called on Monday, Yippee! Don't report.
Then he called on Tuesday, Boo Hoo! Report on Wednesday.
From 7:30 to 3:30, he waited and waited. Then he was told to drive about 19 blocks in downtown Los Angeles to another court. He was sworn in at 4:30 so he would have to come back.
He came back, at one-freaking-thirty on Thursday. I think he waited in the hallway until about 3:00, when they were all told to go home. It's over.
What is wrong with this picture?!? Are there too many suspected criminals? Does the system suck? Can the system be made better? Should there be a deadline, or pre-line for plea bargains? Should there be plea bargains? It makes you wonder.
He gets paid 30 bucks for two days, plus mileage one-way at a rate much lower than the IRS allows, and forgoes potentially $500 plus or minus in earnings he could have made if he worked. He's self employed.
Oh, by the way, cops actually think you're guilty before they even know you, but that is another story.
UDATES: Apparently, LA County only pays from the second day onward. Pkin earned a whole 15 bucks for wasting two days.