My first jury duty! in Adventures in paradise

Jury duty was quite an interesting experience.

I got there around 20 minutes early or so, and just sat outside in the courtyard area. I was at the new courts, so everything was all flash and kept nice. A coffee Club was nearby. At around 8:30am, everyone started to head to go in, so I just followed the crowd. I didn't really understand where I was meant to go, other than the little information I'd been given on my summons. We went through security, which was pretty much just like the airport. I went right on through. We then had to catch the lift up the level 2.

Once on level 2, we had to put our allowance forms in the tray, then scan our summons forms, and then a question would pop up on the screen. The question was "Are you available eveŕy day until February 24th?" We had to answer Yes or No. I had to think about it! Reason being is I leave for Sydney on February 25th. In the end I was kind of rushed to answer it quickly so I seleted "No" to be safe, even though I probably could have chosen 'Yes'. Later on, we were told it was an estimated 3 weeks only, so it's probably good I'd chosen No.

I thought that meant I wouldn't be selected, but it just meant we'd be put on shoter trials. First, one bailife came out and read out a bunch of numbers. Those people had to follow him. After him, a second bàilife read out more numbers. My number still wasn't called. I think there were about 25 of us left out of around 150 who were originally there. We had to wait for AGES! Almost an hour and a half later, our numbers were read out and off we went up a few levels to of the courtrooms. Before we all went in, there was a dvd presentation, basically showing us how everything worked and whatnot. Quite interesting.

So we get in the courtroom and have to sit up the back in the public gallery. The case was read out and then numbers were randomly drawn out of a barrel. There were 25 of us and they needed 12 jurors. Quite a few people were 'Challenged' or 'Stood Down', so it got quite exciting when there weren't many of us left, and my number could have actually been drawn!

But, alas, it wasn't, and the 12 people were chosen for the case. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to talk about the case even if I wasn't chosen, so I think I'll be safe and just not talk about it, especially while it could still be on. Basically it was a typical case that I'm sure they get all the time. Who knows.

The judge let those of us who weren't the chosen ones go :P I walked out and went home. Luckily for me, it wasn't a long walk. I still have to check the website every day to see if I'm needed for another trial or whatnot, which is kind of annoying.

I was SO tired though. I'd only finished work at 2am that morning and had to be up at 7am to eat and whatnot before I went to court. My housemates were paying me out because I was actually awake that early and they aren't used to seeing me in the kitchen haha. It was quite weird being back home by 12pm when usually I'm not even out of bed by that time :P

I managed to stay awake until after 5:30pm, because I needed to know if I'd be neeďed the next day or not so that I could time by sleep pattern around it. It's not easy working nights and doing jury duty during the day. Luckily I was awake enough by the time the proceedings happened at court and I listened to everything properly lol. As I left the courthouse, there were media everywhere outside. I remembered later on that the Baden-Clay pre-trial was on that day, so that would've explained that. I remember seeing that name in the law-lists and wondered if I'd get given that one, but it was a pre-trail so I'm not sure if they need a jury for that.
When I got home, I watched the news (partly to see if I'd be on it lol) and they said that court trial won't be until June. MAN they like to drag it out hey.

So, I can now say I know how it works and will know what to do next time. That was the first time I've ever been inside a courtroom. It was really nice and high-tech everything. I'd be keen to know what the outcome of the case I sat in was, because it really didn't look too good in his favour.

It's 3:54am here now, since I didn't last much past 7pm last night before crashing out. I think I crashed out with my door wide open and my tv going. I woke up under my covers though so I must have moved under there at some stage. My door was partially closed. I remember having some weird dream about being on Lake Ayer and some island that was in the middle of it that was bigger than the lake itself LOL. Go figure, brain! Didn't even make sense.

I don't have to go in today, so woohoo day off! :)